T-L Photo/GAGE VOTA Belmont American Legion Post 312 members Loren Fraelich, from left, Steve Bobot, post commander John Waugh, legion member Andy Wildman, Union local elementary third through fifth grade principal Ron Bober, pre-k through second grade principal Dana Kendziorski, legion members Ed Gorence, Robert Johnson, and Kurt Turner celebrate the $500 donation the post provided to Union Local Elementary.

MORRISTOWN — Belmont American Legion Post 312 donated $500 to Union Local Elementary to help the school provide a happy holiday to its students in need.

Post Commander John Waugh said that the donation was made possible through the Legion’s spaghetti dinner fundraiser held on Oct. 12.

He said that the post keeps just enough of the funds generated from its only fundraising event to survive, then gives whatever it has left back to the community.

“People hurt every year, but they are especially hurting this year, so we’re trying to help,” he said. “We’re veterans, we’re here to help and want to give what we can, and some of us gave all.”

Waugh recently became post commander following the death of former post commander Terry Puperi earlier in the year.

He said that he wants to continue to honor Puperi while serving as the post commander.

“This group of veterans is probably the best group of veterans I’ve ever been around, we’re a band of brothers,” Waugh said. “One for all and all for one.”

Union Local Elementary School pre-K through second grade principal Dana Kendziorski said that the donation will help the school provide the school’s students in need with a wonderful holiday season.

“Every year, we have families that we purchase Christmas for and the veterans and other community organizations all donate,” she said. “Some groups take a family and buy for them, and then some, like the veterans, donate a chunk of money.”

Kendziorski added that the school will send home a flyer with all of the students informing their families that the program is happening and to fill out their information and a wish list of what gifts the children would like to receive and send it back to school with the children. Once the wish list is returned, staff members will go out and purchase the gifts with the money allotted from donations from the community.

“It’ll be like an outfit and a toy or two, and then we’ll wrap them up and then the kids’ parents can take them home, and then they’ll have something special for them underneath the tree,” Kendziorski said.

She added that the school has been doing the program for the past decade and serves more than 30 families each year.

All of the wish lists are given to the staff members anonymously.

“We just know the age of the child and their wish list and then we go buy the items,” she said. “Right before Christmas break, the families come pick the items up and take them home.”

Kendziorski added that she believes the program is important because all kids deserve presents during the holiday season.

“It’s so important that we support our families. We know that there’s a lot of challenging things going on, and if we can we want to lighten the load for some of the parents,” Kendziorski said.

“It can be heartbreaking if you can’t buy anything for your kids. So we just try to support them.”