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Nearly two dozen local veterans and their significant others attended the free monthly potluck dinner party at the Veterans Memorial Building in Hollister on June 24 as part of an ongoing effort to engage local veterans and the community.
Another 10 people or so helped out, which featured food, a raffle with prizes, bingo, and the capper—a dessert contest.
According to George Nava, commander of American Legion Post 69, the gathering is intended to bring people and friends together as much as possible.
“I know there are a lot of those who have passed that have widows,” he said, “and they don’t have anyone to reach out to and hold in their memories. We try to do this at least once a month. It gives our veterans a place to visit with other people.”
Veterans Memorial Building manager Maria Spandri said the monthly pot luck dinners are typically held the last Tuesday of each month at 5:30. Traditionally, Spandri said, the Vets Hall provides the main course, usually themed, and all the attendees provide their family traditional sides. The next potluck dinner is set for Aug. 26, after a break in July, and the theme will be Taco Tuesday with a salsa contest.
“The purpose of these dinners are to build our veteran community and network opportunities,” she said. “It’s especially important for our elderly veteran community to know they have a place where they experience the camaraderie they once felt while they were active duty. Building this veteran community will also assist us in making sure we keep up with those that are in need because when they stop showing up we know something‘s going on and we need to check on them.”
Spandri, a veteran herself who is a member of the local American Legion and VFW posts, added that the potluck dinners are an effort to “try to encourage all veterans to find a home where they fit.”
“Although our American Legion Post 69 and VFW Post 9242 are housed in the same location, it was important for us at Veterans Memorial Building to have veterans and their families have a starting point to find a fit,” she said. “We are always humbled by the City of Hollister to allow all our veterans groups to have a home in such an amazing building.”
One of the people at the dinner was U.S. Army veteran Frank Covarrubias, who served in the 871st Troop Command at Patch Barracks in Germany, as well as in Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama.
“I’m a veteran and they sent me an email,” he said. “I’m hungry; free meal.”
Covarrubis said he brought his wife, Rose Covarrubis, who made a fruit cocktail.
“I don’t leave my house much,” he said. “This gives my wife something to step out of the house for, and I love playing bingo.”
Lisa Casarez said she likes to show her support for veterans and enjoys catching up with those who are there. She also brought a dish to share.
“I usually bring my famous macaroni salad,” she said, “but this time there was a dessert contest so I entered my ambrosia, and lo and behold, I won the prize—$100.”
Casarez said she wished more people would attend the monthly dinner, noting that it helps when the community comes together to support veterans.
Aniyah Gutierrez said that she has brought chocolate and vanilla cakes to the potluck before and won prizes for them.
“I heard about this event from my grandparents,” she said. “I like getting to know each other better and spending time with family.”
Sylvia Deluna brought corn on the cob and won some jewelry in the raffle.
“I try to always participate, help and volunteer anytime I hear that this is coming up,” she said. “I’m trying to support the veterans, and this helps out all our veterans here in San Benito County. The camaraderie is very important to a lot of them.”
Karen Barnes brought a chocolate lava cake dessert, macaroni salad and prizes for the raffle. She also calls the bingo game.
“I’m the greeter who calls everybody every month to let them know that we’re having dinner,” she said. “We come every month, we donate prizes and food for whoever would like to come and join us.”
Barnes said everyone volunteers their time to cook and set up tables for the dinner.
“This is a way for everyone to come and visit,” she said. “It lets veterans get away from the outside world and know they’re supported when they come here.”
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