The American Legion Homer Dillard Post #78 is seeking donations through a capital fund campaign to repair areas that were damaged by a flood earlier this year.
Organization Adjutant Curtis R. Millner Sr. said the building’s parking lot was washed out in January.
“It was the fifth time since we’ve been in that location – we moved there in 2007. Three times was the result of hurricanes that came to this area, other times it was just major rainstorms,” he said.
Millner said the organization was told the only alternative is to pave the parking lot, “for that we do not have the funds.”
The last estimate the organization got for the paving was approximately $35,000.
Millner added the kitchen floor inside the organization’s building also deteriorated due to the flood waters.
“We need to get that repaired. That cost, the last estimate we got on that was $15,000,” he said.
Because of the group’s tax filing status as a 501c19 organization, Millner said it is unable to obtain grants.
“We are a 501c19, which means that membership in our organization is restricted, and restricted to veterans only,” he said. “We try to point out to people that even though membership in our organization is restricted, what veterans have done and are still doing is not restricted to anyone. The sacrifices that were made, and the contributions we’re making now, are open to everyone.”
Millner said he finds it difficult to understand that people cannot make a tax-deductible donation to the post.
“Most grants, like the Harvest Foundation, refuse to give us a grant because of our tax filing status,”
Millner said, and the organization cannot change its IRS designation because it applies to all posts nation-wide.
“There are a couple of bills before Congress now” including “HR1662 that would make a change to that so that 501c19 organizations can get grants,” he said.
In the meantime, the group relies on membership dues, donations, fund raisers like fish fries, and an annual raffle for operational expenses.
Since the capital fund campaign started, Millner said approximately $5,000 has been raised.
“We have sent letters to most of the businesses, churches, and other organizations that normally make contributions to such” fundraisers. “So, far, we have received six replies,” he said.
Millner noted the largest contributor so far is Vesper Energy, the company that is constructing the solar farm in the eastern part of Henry County and the western park of Pittsylvania County.
The Post currently has 174 members including two World War II veterans, 14 Korean war veterans, and 54 Vietnam War veterans. Other veterans and organization members were involved in Lebanon/Grenada, Panama, Gulf War, and the War on Terror.
In addition to supporting veterans and their dependents, Millner said the group also supports local youth like high school Junior ROTC, offers annual scholarships, and sends youngsters to the American Legion Boys & Girls State and the American Legion Junior Law Cadet Program.
Millner said the organization recently gave scholarships to a student at Bassett High School and a student at Martinsville City High School. Also recently, “we gave awards to the Junior ROTC at Bassett (High School) and Magna Vista (High School).” They were “military excellence and scholastic excellence awards,” he said.
Millner emphasized that any funds raised from this capital fund campaign will only go to capital projects.
“It will not support our other endeavors,” he said.
Donations can be sent to American Legion Homer Dillard Post #78 P.O. Box 342, Martinsville, VA 24114-0342.
