American Legion – Madison Township

By Chad Felton | cfelton@news-herald.com | The News-Herald
UPDATED: November 10, 2024 at 5:30 p.m. EST

Despite the seemingly endless drizzle and nippy temps, Sub Zero Mission’s “Stuff the Bus” donation drive went without a hitch on November 10 at the American Legion Jay Wilson Post 112, 6671 Middle Ridge Road, in Madison Township.

Sub Zero helps unsheltered homeless individuals stay warm during winter by delivering “Stay Alive 5” items, such as coats, hats, gloves, boots, sleeping bags, and other warming items, to Northeast Ohio and local regions.

Featuring food (in the form of a chili cook-off), fellowship, and fun on Veterans Day Eve — with, thankfully, no Browns game to dispirit folks — Wilson, naturally, paid tribute to servicemen and servicewomen who have protected America and its freedoms.

The post even held a “Meet and Greet” informational seminar highlighting female veterans’ service and continued commitment.

Sub Zero Events and Fundraising Operations Chief Nick Ajdinovich noted that Wilson has supported the organization for over a decade.

“We reach out to Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legions (posts) to support veterans,” he said, adding Wilson was one of the first to support the group. “We also partner with companies like Parker Hannifin and Enbridge, Inc., where veteran organizations are within the company.

“Our outreach missions also set up an events table with brochures, swag, and our mission board,” Ajdinovich added, “a summary of what we did during the previous outreach season. During our 2023-2024 season, we visited seven states and 23 cities and handed out over 30,000 items.”

While Stuff the Bus attendance varies, Wilson drew about 100 people over three hours.

Ajdinovich noted that the nonprofit will launch its “Homeless Veteran Re-Empowerment Program” on November 11.

“If we find a homeless veteran, we will try to talk to them and have them come home with us on our bus that night, put them in temporary housing, contact the VA, and put together a program for that veteran, which will ultimately find them a job and permanent housing,” he said.

The program will be held at Sub Zero’s headquarters, 1760 North Ridge Road in Painesville, on Veterans Day from 47 p.m p.m.

“We hope all can attend as a follow-up to the Madison American Legion event,” Ajdinovich said.

For more information about Sub Zero Mission, visit www.subzeromission.org.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Originally Published: November 10, 2024 at 5:18 PM EST