Mercer County VFW Seeking Donations To Update Facility; Letter From Post Commander

The following is a letter from the Mercer VFW Post 1571 Commander. 

Dear Citizens,

As many of you know we have spent the last few years creating some very beautiful Memorials outside of our Post to commemorate and honor all Veterans and to also attract new members and get people to visit this area. In 2011 we applied for and received a grant from Home Depot in the amount of $5,000.00 to remodel the upstairs of the Hall. This work was conducted by an all-volunteer force of members and people in the Community. However we are still in need of many updates to our facility and need your help.

Unfortunately as far as business goes times have been tough recently on us and there are not enough funds for us to address the areas in desperate need of repair such as windows, doors, flooring, and bathrooms. We believe we have a building in which serves as a huge asset to our Community and I think many of you would agree we cannot afford to lose this asset. Our Officers have recently conducted an inventory and survey of equipment in need of replacement and any cost saving measures we can take to improve the efficiency of how we run our Post. Much of our equipment is at least 15-20 years old and some of it is much older than that. In order to repair, update, or replace this equipment it is going to cost thousands of dollars that we simply don’t have. Our membership is growing older and the ability to continue to do the fundraising needed to keep our doors open is becoming more and more difficult.

We are committed to continue to do as many fundraising events as possible to raise the money necessary for our upgrades so we can continue to offer a clean and up to date Community Center/ Reception Hall. However we need community support. When you visit our bar, dine with us during our Friday night suppers, rent either the upstairs or downstairs halls, or support our fundraising efforts this doesn’t only go towards utilities. This is also for the maintenance of the building and equipment maintenance and upgrades on top of paying employees and staff. Our plan will upgrade equipment and allow us to modernize several of the areas that need attention.

VFW Post 1571 is one of the largest buildings in town and it is not cheap to run and maintain as you can very well see. This current building was rebuilt in less than a year by all volunteers after a very devastating fire in 1961 and our organization has done our best to keep this facility up and running ever since that time. We hope you can find it in your heart to support the many things we have available to all of you or to make a generous donation today to help us update our facility so we may withstand another 50 years of serving our Community.

To make a donation please make checks payable to Mercer Co. VFW Post 1571 and mail to: P.O. BOX 125 Aledo, IL. 61231

Respectfully, VFW Post 1571 Commander J.D. Larue