This winter, VFW Post 6291 has served as a warming center for the Murray, Kentucky, community when temperatures drop below 30 degrees.
Post 6291 Commander Richard J. Owens said the Post opened as a warming center in January for 20 days in conjunction with local emergency management officials.
He said during that time the Post served nearly 100 people, 22 of which stayed there 24 hours a day. The 22 people were served a minimum of two meals a day and everyone was welcome to winter necessities.
According to The Herald Ledger, the Post provided blankets, clothes, pillows, shoes, warm food and a place to sleep for those in need.
Owens said they distributed more than $40,000 worth of cold weather essentials to community members during those 20 days.
“We call our Post a family, and we all come together as a family to look after one another,” Owens added. “We took an oath to serve our country, and that oath never died.”
The Post will open as a warming center in the future on an as-needed basis when temps drop.
This article is featured in the 2025 February issue of Checkpoint. If you're a VFW member and don't currently receive the VFW Checkpoint, please contact VFW magazine at magazine@vfw.org. Article written by Madeline Mapes, a freelance writer based in Kansas City, Missouri.