The Power of One Multiplied

Each individual step we take in Serving America’s Heroes is huge – The Power of One idea, one voice, one Auxiliary, one District, one Department is multiplied many times over and the impact is enormous!

Pictured below are Frank Matek and Tony McGrew, Department of Oklahoma 2026-2027 VFWA President and VFW Commander respectively presenting a check to representatives of the 137th Special Operations Wing of the Air National Guard from the Auxiliary for $1,341 not to mention the approximately 200 pounds of people and pet food donated by Auxiliaries and Posts alike during our Pack the Pantry drive. This is just one example of what we do every single day that impacts our veteran community-Thank You to the many generous participants who made this happen; the difference you made is immeasurable!

The 137th unit supports not only statewide Guard units but also Reserve units and active-duty Tinker Air Force Base.

The sponsors of the annual Oklahoma City Stand Down will not be hosting that particular event this year, but there will be a multitude of ‘pop up’ events with unmet needs expressed, sometimes with extremely short timelines. Such unmet needs will include school supplies, baby and child needs, continued pantry donations, and newly homed and homeless supplies, and more!

Please encourage Posts to join with Auxiliaries in donating (funds or product). Checks should be made to Department of Oklahoma VFWA with Veterans & Family Support Program (or V&FS) in the check memo and mailed to Treasurer Deborah Miner Gonzales. Product donations may be delivered to either of the upcoming Schools of Instruction and/or to Department meetings (Fall Festival, Mid-Winter, and Convention). All donations will be used wisely incorporating a variety of veteran and family supporting organizations across Oklahoma.

Please donate generously!

“I am only one, but I am one.

I cannot do everything, but I can do something.

And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do.”

— Edward Everett Hale

Sandy Bassett

Veteran & Family Support Chairman