Sherburne American Legion Auxiliary grants funding to Oxford Veterans Home for Blanket Warmers
Residents of the New York State Veterans Home in Oxford with members of the Sherburne American Legion Auxiliary Unit 876 and Veterans Home staff following a donation ceremony on Tuesday. The Auxiliary donated $13,865. Standing in the back row, left to right are Kurt Apthorpe, Jennifer Tyler-Scheuer, Sophie Liberatore, Gail Jones, Deb Benedict, Cheer Cole, Lora Rowe, Susie Boise, Gail Seymour, Judy Losee, Melanie Haines, Angela Jones, Brittany Weissman, and Mike Howard. (Submitted photo)
OXFORD - On June 17, 2025, a ceremony was held at the Oxford Veterans Home to announce the installation of two blanket warmers and present the home with a check for $13,865 to cover the costs. Attendees included Oxford Veterans Home Administrators, American Legion Auxiliary members, and Veterans.
Unit 876 collaborated with NYS Veterans Home in Oxford, NY, to acquire two blanket warmers for their facility. These warmers will provide comfort to veterans immediately after showering by covering them with a warmed blanket. Blanket warmers help residents sleep better and stay comfortable. They also relieve pain and improve mobility for those who are ill or injured.
The Oxford Veterans Home organized the acquisition and installation of the blanket warmers.The Sherburne American Legion Auxiliary unit applied for and received a $10,000 grant to fund the two units that will be equipped with these blanket warmers. Countless veterans will be impacted over the years.
The Veterans Home currently has eight blanket warmers and plans to get a total of 12 to accommodate each unit that has two shower rooms.
Unit 876 has maintained a long-term affiliation with the NYS Veterans Home located in Oxford, NY. Our unit members provide volunteer services, serve on the Board of Visitors and make monetary donations.
The American Legion Auxiliary (ALA) provides support to veterans. Serving our nation's veterans requires personalized approaches. Veterans’ needs can vary from community to community. ALA members are great at finding solutions to those needs.
Chenango County is fortunate to have a Veterans Home within its vicinity, and the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 876 extends support whenever possible to meet their needs. Regrettably, there are instances when the expense of the solution appears to be beyond the financial capacity of our Unit. We then can apply at a national level for a "Veterans Project Fund" grant from the American Legion Auxiliary Foundation to meet that need. The foundation provides grants of up to $10,000 for units addressing new, one-time needs of veterans in the community. The ALA entity is required to fund at least 20% of the total project cost, and the project must align with the ALA's mission.
New York State Oxford Veterans Home accommodates 242 veterans and their spouses, with a current residency of 193 individuals. Over the years, numerous veterans will benefit from its services.
— Information from Sherburne American Legion
Comments