By Matt de Simone
The Botetourt community proudly gives back to its veterans and shows its support every year, especially during the holidays.
Local nonprofit organization Sirens & Salutes spent Christmas Eve at Carrington Place in Daleville dropping off gifts, stockings, and other items for 24 local veterans. Bill Price, the co-founder of the organization, recently shared that Sirens & Salutes “adopted” the veterans for the organization and local community members to Christmas shop for based on the veterans’ wishes for gifts this holiday season.
“(The veterans) had wish lists they made up for what they wanted for Christmas,” Price said. “We would give (members of the community who volunteered to shop) the wish lists and then they would bring the stuff back to me.”
Price explained that the veterans’ wish lists were completed by the volunteers and, if any items on the lists were not purchased, the charity completed the purchases to make sure that every item on a veteran’s list was bought.
Photos courtesy of Sirens and Salutes
Three volunteers made stockings for the veterans decorated to highlight their respective branch of the U.S. Armed Forces. Those stockings were then filled with items like candy and snacks. Additionally, the charity prepared separate gift bags containing toiletry needs for all the veterans that included soap, shampoo, deodorant, toothbrushes, shaving tools, and lotion.
On Christmas Eve, Carrington Place threw a Christmas party where the charity brought along Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus, the Grinch, and friends to hand out presents and enjoy a holiday celebration.
Sirens & Salutes thanked members of the Botetourt community in a recent social media post sharing their gratitude for Stacey Brugh, Kerry Lynne Perkins, Chelsea Gilliam, Charlie Alphin, Kevin Brookman, Howard Cody and his daughter Michelle, Jessica Shorter Myers and her family, Judy Board Moore, Jenny Wilson, Pam and Mike Coloton, and others.
To learn more about Sirens and Salutes, please visit www.sirensandsalutes.org or the organization’s Facebook page.
