DENVER — Since 2010, the ladies at the Denver United Methodist Church have been putting together and delivering baskets to veterans in the Tunnelton/Denver area.
“Back in 2010, Evaline Davis and I put together six baskets and delivered them to veterans we knew about,” Loretta Goff said. “The next year the ladies of the church wanted to help. We’ve been filling and delivering baskets every since.”
The women who work on this project make all of the baked goods and donate all of the food that goes into the baskets. Goff said they buy the baskets in bulk at Sam’s Club. She said other than the ladies of the church, they have only two volunteers, her sisters Pam and Bev.
“Two of my sisters bake items and donate them. We had 10 diabetics last year and seven this year, so we make special baskets for them. This year my sister is making diabetic banana bread, pepperoni rolls and two or three types of diabetic cookies,” Goff said.
Goff said last year the group put together 42 baskets and hand-delivered them to the veterans on their list. She said she keeps the veterans list from year to year.
She said the first year of the pandemic, the group didn’t make the baskets, but continued the project the following year. Goff said the veterans receiving the baskets were happy to see them again. She said once the masks were no longer required many of the veterans wanted them to stay and chat.
Goff said to make their baskets personal they add a special note to each one.
“We add the name of the veteran and a card that reads, ‘Thank you for your service to God and country. God bless you. Happy Veteran’s Day from the Denver United Methodist Church.”
