"Too many cooks spoil the broth” is an age old expression that doesn’t apply in the kitchen at the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Calabash Post 7288. "Whether cooking for the weekly BINGO game (open to the public  every Thursday night), celebrating a holiday or military service anniversary or just offering a meal for members and friends, we have many talented chefs willing to volunteer their expertise for any occasion” said VFW Calabash Post 7288 Auxiliary President Cathy Milstead.  Monday night hot wings and Friday night bites, along with Wednesday golf lunches have become fixtures for members at the Post. Throw in the community fund raising events, like the annual Lenten Fish Fry, weekly Bingo snack bar and grill, special chicken or steak dinners and It seems there is always something good cooking at the post.

"Almost all our events are ultimately fund raisers.”  said VFW Calabash Post commander Wayne Grigsby.  "Volunteer cooks, servers and cleanup crews help us keep the costs down, making the meals affordable and helping us raise more money to support our veteran’s programs and community charitable endeavors."  Even the low cost, routine meals, served at member only functions, end up yielding something for the charity kitty. It may only be a small amount, but that ongoing momentum is often invisible to members and guests whose participation is footing the bill. Commander Grigsby recently instituted a new concept the post will begin using immediately. "When we advertise events for our fundraisers, we should advertise what we are fundraising for and what we plan to donate." he said. It’s a simple way to be both transparent and to let people know that every dollar is being put to good use.

For example, a recent Friday Night Bites event, featuring food and fun for the members, with a DJ and dancing, falls into this category. Based on past experience with similar dinners, VFW officers set goals including 150 dollars to the National Veterans Service and 75 dollars for the POW/MIA Project. At the end of the night, the post was happy to exceed the goal. 

"This is what has been going on behind the scenes forever,” Grigsby quipped, "providing quiet, ongoing support for meaningful projects the post has been funding for years. We couldn’t do this without the great teamwork of volunteers from the Post and Auxiliary, and the members, friends and community supporters who attend and sustain these events.

It’s a satisfying way to build camaraderie while supporting veteran and local meaningful causes. The VFW Post hopes you’ll join them for an upcoming event and feel the excitement of giving while having a good time and a satisfying meal. Something smells good in the Kitchen. I wonder what they’ll be serving next?

Team VFW Post 7288 builds camaraderie among United States Veterans of overseas conflicts and the Auxiliary in order to serve Veterans, the military, our community and advocates on behalf of all Veterans. If you are a veteran that served in a war zone you may be eligible  to become a regular member.  If you have a family member who served in a war zone you may become  a member of the Post's Auxiliary. Come by the Post to see what we are all about and pick up a membership form.