With this funding, we will be able to develop a greater range of creative projects in this program.”

Artist and veteran Dana Ramsey

American Legion Auxiliary Unit 62
9847 W. Desert Cove Ave.
Peoria, AZ
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Recognizing the importance of staying connected during these trying times, the city of Peoria has donated $5,999 to Peoria’s American Legion Auxiliary (ALA) Unit 62, 9847 W. Desert Cove Ave., Peoria, and its HEAL HER Art program.

“Time and time again the auxiliary shares the depth of their heart and soul with our community,” Mayor Cathy Carlat said. “And now, as people near and far, young and old, are looking for ways to be uplifted and ways to find joy, the auxiliary is helping us see the incredible healing powers of art. The city of Peoria is proud to be home to Unit 62 and it is our honor to support their noble legacy of service.”

HEAL HER Art is an Arizona art wellness program for women veterans developed in partnership with ALA Unit 62, the American Legion Auxiliary Foundation and Veterans First, LTD. During the Stay Home, Stay Healthy, Stay Connected Arizona gubernatorial directive, it has revamped its monthly art program to be virtual.

“It became increasingly clear that monthly events were not sufficient for our women veterans and that the community at large needed stress relief,” Unit 62 president Tammy Early said.

The donation, approved by Mayor Carlat and Pine District Councilmember Denette Dunn, will enable daily programs to be conducted via “Facebook Live” through May. The professionally-led painting and drawing programs, which began April 12, have already had nearly 10,000 “Facebook reaches.” Its recent cactus rock-painting class was viewed nearly 1,000 times. Participants can communicate during the events and post their artwork on the page.

“With this funding, we will be able to develop a greater range of creative projects in this program,” artist and veteran Dana Ramsey said.

For example, the program is creating greeting card events where children can create “card art” and then send their art to local long-term care facilities that are in lock-down.

“We hope this helps parents who are homeschooling children who need fun activities and seniors who are isolated,” Ms. Ramsey continued.

The program is also developing patriotic programs for upcoming National Poppy Day (May 22) and Memorial Day (May 25). Glendale’s Mason’s Pub and Grub (10634 N. 51st Ave., Glendale) donated $500 to have art supplies and special events for Luke Air Force Base children of deployed parents.

“If being a single parent while your spouse is serving the country wasn’t already hard enough - imagine the stress now,” said Mason’s owner and Unit 62 Children and Youth Chairman Mikaela Anderson said.

Another greeting card event, “Kids Helping Kids,” will encourage children to send their card art to military children whose parent is deployed.

All events are open to the public and can be accessed through the HEAL HER Art Facebook page. While the majority of participants are local, through support of the National American Legion Family, word of the events has spread across the country. Participants have included artists from Minnesota, Maryland, Colorado, California, Tennessee, Pennsylvania and New York.

Contact American Legion Auxiliary Unit 62 at ALAunit62AZ@gmail.com or visit the HEAL HER Art Facebook page.

The American Legion Family (American Legion, American Legion Auxiliary & Sons of the American Legion) of Arizona also donated more than $15,000 to the Family Readiness Group (FRG) of the Arizona National Guard to support deployed families during the COVID-19 pandemic.

They are also working with Harvest Compassion Centers to provide food for veterans and their families. Veterans, with proof of service, are welcome to veteran-only distributions 9-11:30 a.m. Thursday, April 30 and Thursday, May 7 at the Harvest Compassion Center-Maryvale, 4002 N. 67th Ave., Phoenix.

The American Legion Family of Arizona has more than 70,000 veteran and veteran-family members.

Editor’s note: Marge Christianson is the public relations volunteer for American Legion Auxiliary, John J Morris Unit 62, Peoria.