VFW Post 8577 and Auxiliary Present Checks to Copperas Cove Senior Center

By BRITTANY FHOLER

Cove Leader-Press

Members of the VFW Post #8577 Auxiliary showed up for an afternoon of bingo at the Copperas Cove Senior Activity Center Wednesday.

The VFW Auxiliary members were there to present a check for $100 to the Senior Center. The Auxiliary donates $25 each month to the Senior Center for the purchase of bingo prizes for the bingo games held for the senior citizens.

VFW Auxiliary President Lucy Anastasio said this donation will be for the next four months of bingo prizes. She added that the members of the Auxiliary have also made the decision to come and play bingo with the senior citizens every month on the Wednesday following their monthly Monday meeting.

The Senior Center holds a “Let’s Make a Deal” themed bingo game every other Monday and holds regular bingo games every Wednesday and Friday. Bingo prizes range from a $5 gift card to toiletries and home goods such as toilet paper, paper towels, shampoo, body wash, etc.

VFW Post #8577 Quartermaster Mike Anastasio was also present to present the Senior Center with a check for $1,000 after Senior Center Community Outreach Specialist Robbie Willie was unable to accept the check when the VFW first distributed a total of $15,500 in funds last month.  The funds from the VFW come from the VFW’s bingo funds, of which a portion is required by state law to be given away to charitable/non-profit organizations.

Willie, who came on as the Community Outreach Specialist during the first part of June 2022, said that she wanted to have the check presentation done when the senior citizens were there and planned an afternoon of food and bingo fun, with Lucy Anastasio.

This marks the first donation from the VFW while Willie has been the Community Outreach Specialist, and it is the second donation from the Auxiliary.

Willie said that she hopes to use the money from the VFW for trips with the senior citizens and also possibly some future dances.

“They love their dances,” Willie said. “That's why they get so excited with Scotty Ray [of Scotty Ray Band]. We’ll move the chairs back after bingo, and they get to grooving. It’s really just for what they [the seniors] want and what they love, what they want to do. That is what I’m here for.”

Willie said that in her short time with the Senior Center, there has been growth and love and a morale boost among all of the seniors and herself and the volunteers.  

“We're a good team here,” she said. “It's still a learning process for me, but other than that, we just really have come together, a tight knit group.”

Willie added that they have incorporated a movie day at the Senior Center, showing a movie on the projector screen, and Willey will make popcorn for the seniors.

“It’s just different things to try to keep them happy and out of their house and just with other people, socialization big time,” she said.

The Senior Center is located at 1012 North Drive, in Suite 5. The hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.