American Legion Auxiliary
District 26 of San Mateo County
Six ALA Unit locations serving Military & Veteran Families
and Our Local Community
Six ALA Unit locations serving Military & Veteran Families
and Our Local Community
December 15. D26 volunteers delivered the wish list gifts veterans requested. U585 Anna was brought to tears seeing the health struggles and how appreciative residents were of their gifts and being remembered. Auxiliary ladies thanked our veterans for their service to our country and also delivered desserts to patients in their rooms. L-R: U585-San Carlos Anna, U105-Redwood City Peggy & Joyce, U238-Pacifica Janice, and U105/D26 VA&R Deputy Arlene who's managed our D26 Adopt-a-Vet Program for years.
December 2024. Members of Unit 238 Pacifica gathered for their holiday potluck dinner. The night included wrapping gifts for VA-Menlo Park resident patients and Pomeroy Recreation & Rehabilitation Center in San Francisco. Pomeroy offers support to those with developmental disabilities and those with traumatic brain injuries.
December 2024. U105 ladies enjoyed a relaxing lunch and gift exchange before the tsunami of volunteer activities for the month--Wreaths Across America at Golden Gate National Cemetery, Lighted Boat Festival at Half Moon Bay (rain anticipated), VA Holiday Party, Toys for Vets, and "A Veterans Christmas" at the San Mateo Elks Lodge. L-R: Pat, Co-Chaplain Carol McA, Secretary Cindy, Mary, President Peggy, VA&R Dep. Arlene, and Co-Chaplain Joyce.
U105 members pictured: D26 VA&R Deputy Arlene, D26/U105 President Peggy, D26 Treasurer/U105 Secretary Cindy, and Mary. D26 Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation Deputy Arlene has served 6+ years in her role as liaison between the VA and the Auxiliary.
November 2024. College of San Mateo's Veterans Resource & Opportunity Center's Coordinator Marcos and veterans accepted Unit 105 Redwood City's $500 worth of food donations. VROC provides multiple services–lounge area, computer access, VA info, and camaraderie. The delivery fulfills our mission to serve military families and addresses possible food insecurity for some veteran students.
November 2024. Unit 105 donated Glowforge laser cutter supplies to the VA-Menlo Park's Art Center. VA&R Deputy Arlene delivered to instructor Tien Gerrodette. In addition, $500 worth of Costco gift cards were donated to VA-MP Bldg. 331 for staff to buy needed supplies and goods.
2025 City Council of Foster City: Suzy Niederhofer, Art Kiesel, Stacy Jimenez, Patrick Sullivan, and Phoebe Venkat.
December 9, 2024. Auxiliary member Stacy Jimenez was elected by the City Council of Foster City for a one-year term as the 2025 Mayor. Stacy is one of the inaugural members of Unit 105 which was chartered in 2020. Her veterans lineage dates back to the American Revolution. Stacy served on U105's California Girls State selection panel in 2021, 2022, and 2023. For the past two years at Post 105's Veterans Day Ceremony, Stacy bestowed our Girls State Citizens with their graduation stoles. Stacy holds a degree in Politics from UCLA and a Juris Doctorate from University of San Francisco.
November 11, 2024. Post 105's annual Veterans Day Ceremony despite a morning downpour. Without missing a beat, the entire event was moved from Courthouse Square to indoors at Post 105. Dignitaries included Assemblywoman Diane Papan, reps from Congressman Kevin Mullin's and State Senator Josh Becker's offices, SM Co. Veterans Comissioner Donna Valliancourt, Redwood City Council women Vice Mayor Lisette Espinosa-Garnica & Diane Howard, and Foster City Vice Mayor & U105 member Stacy Jimenez.
Tuesday, November 5. Relax and eat out for lunch and dinner while helping Unit 472 raise funds. This Unit's members are the brain trust of California GIRLS STATE management.
October 2024. Kudos to Unit 585 Lloyd J. Tobey of San Carlos and Unit 105 Redwood City for their volunteers, six and five, respectively. After the day's work, 500 care boxes were created for deployed soldiers and 300 care bags for veterans in need. Auxiliary members pictured: U585 President Marci, U585 Diana, U105 1st VP Pauline, Amy (dual Blue Star Mom), U105/D26 VA&R Deputy Arlene, and U105 Secretary/D26 Treasurer Cindy.
October 2024. All are welcomed to join the Post 105 Redwood City FAMILY on November 11 as we host our annual VETERANS DAY CEREMONY.
Legionnaires Vern, Michael (Exec Comm, PR team), Bob, and Aux D26 President Peggy (PR team) walked downtown Redwood City to ask merchants to display our flyer and to inform merchants of street closures for our annual day of honoring our Veterans.
Sales were brisk. Funds raised will assist U474 in fulfilling its mission to help veteran & military families and our great community.
September 2024. Post 238 queue up for the annual Fogfest Parade in Pacifica. U238 President Janice with the ALA Unit flag.
WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA
October 2024. Purchase your wreath(s) using this link from San Mateo County Blue Star Moms. This year's event will be held at Golden Gate National Cemetery on Saturday, December 14.
October
13 U.S. Navy Birthday
26 National Day of the Deployed
November
National Veterans & Military Families Month
10 U.S. Marine Corps Birthday
11 Veterans Day
11-15 National Veterans Small Business Week
28 Thanksgiving Day
September 2024. Sally Bernstein, 90, passed away on September 9, a few months after her late sister Cora Jean. The two were very active U82 volunteers until recent years. Both dedicated their time and money to the VA Palo Alto Polytrauma Unit (donating a huge holiday tree, decorating the center every year, and more). Both were regulars at the Post monthly dinners.
Pictured above are Unit 82 members & sisters Sally and Cora Jean stuffing gift bags for VA patients.
Non-ALA Event
26th Annual PICYA Wheelchair Regatta
Skippers & Volunteers needed
August 2024. Through a generous grant by Post 105 Redwood City Charitable Foundation, ALA District 26 will work to restart spring and fall BBQs at VA-Menlo Park. If you'd like to be a part of the team to organize the BBQs for patients & staff at Bldg. 331, please contact D26 at CA.Aux.District26@gmail.com.
August 2024. Members converged at the beautiful Clovis Veterans Memorial District to meet, learn and update each other on our community service and organizational health. The weekend was an opportunity to learn about the many ALA programs--Children &
Youth (school supplies for military families), VA&R (supporting VA patients), National Security (disaster preparedness), Community Service (blood drive, food pantry, vote center, etc.), and more. Members networked, shared info, and encourage each other.
Aug 2024. District 26's fiscal year started out with a car wash, our meeting, and a banger breakfast! Members arrived at Post 105 Redwood City to a fundraiser car wash for the USMC 23d Regiment. Regiment members & their families did a superb job of caring for our cars while D26 kicked off its first meeting of the year. Later, all D26 members headed to the Post Hall to enjoy a special SOS Breakfast prepared by 2nd Vice Commander Leo and his wife Carol (U105 Co-Chaplain). The Italian sausage gravy, toast & eggs hit the spot.
Pictured seated are D26's (L-R): Chaplain Janice (President, U238 Pacifica), 2nd VP Marci (President, U585 San Carlos), Peggy (President, D26 & U105 Redwood City), Bonnie (1st VP, D26 & U585 San Carlos), Cindy (D26 Treasurer & U105 Secretary), Arlene (VA&R Deputy), and Susan (Secretary & U474 1st VP). Photography Credit: William Jackson, Jr.
651 El Camino Real, Redwood City
SEPTEMBER 7 as well, 9am-2pm
Donations Welcomed
June 2024. L-R. Co-chaplain Carol McA, President Peggy, Mary, VA&R Deputy Arlene, Co-chaplain Joyce, Treasurer Wendy, 1st Vice Pauline, 2nd Vice Carol B, and Secretary Cindy. P105 photos by Wm. Jackson, Jr.
P105's eldest member, Cliff, celebrated his 100th birthday after the June Installation meeting.
This eUnit is so active, we had to create a composite picture. Members hail from CA, CO, HI, NC, NY, TX, WA and more.
ALA National President-elect Trish Ward, D26's Peggy, 2025 CAGS Chairwoman Caroline, and past National President 2013-2014 Nancy Brown Park.
Pauline, Pat, Mary, Carol McA & Peggy prepare to serve lunch to the 100+ guests at the Car Show. See sample of cars in the picture carousel to the right.
May 2024. Auxiliary members assisted at the annual car show--selling RED t-shirts (Remember Everyone Deployed) and serving lunch.
May 2024. Here are some of the 19 Delegates who will represent San Mateo County and San Francisco County at CA Girls State in June. Only one student is chosen from each high school (pictured): Burlingame, Capuchino, Carlmont, Design Tech, Hillsdale, Menlo, Mills, San Mateo, Sequoia, and Terra Nova. The 81st session of this renown leadership, civic engagement & public service conference is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for 400+ accomplished rising seniors to LEEP: Learn, Engage, Explore & Pass it forward. For more information about this annual educational program, contact CA.Aux.District26@gmail.com. Photograph by K. Toye.
June 5, 2024
Lauren was a 2023 Girls State Citizen and a speaker at our 2024 Girls State Orientation.
VETERANS: REGISTER USING THIS LINK
Exceptional high school leaders, inventors & scholars
April 2024. The Auxiliary connected with past and new providers to further our mission of assisting our military and veteran families. Over 150 people gather to share information, commit to the Commission's June 7 Stand Down, and promise to follow up with new contacts. Productive event!
2015 VA Palo Alto Polytrauma Unit: tree donated by Cora Jean and her sister Sally.
Photograph by U105 K. Toye
Excerpted from CA Auxiliary News Hub, Apr-May 2024
San Mateo
EVENT
Feb 18
January 2024. Unit 585 San Carlos and Unit 472 Virtual Unit both contributed baby gifts for military families. Units from all across California were asked to donated gifts towards a "Baby Shower" for our military families.
Above Right: Unit 472 Virtual Unit donated two travel diaper backpacks.
Left: Unit 105's newest member, Mary, purchased four sets of onesies for infants.
Gifts werecollected at the annual mid-year Department (state level) Executive Committee meeting & conference, January 19-21, in Sacramento.
WELCOME TO DISTRICT 26
SAN MATEO COUNTY
Welcome to the New Year. District 26 stands poised to resume activities with the VA at Menlo Park, provide supplies and support to our Veterans, and offer social outlets for our six Units' family and friends.
Feel free to join any of our Units in their endeavors to assist our Veterans, Military families, and our greater communities. For more information about each Unit, use this link.
December 2023. District 26 collected gifts for the Adopt-a-Vet program at Bldg. 331 of the VA-Menlo Park. All six Units were given veteran patient wish lists to fulfill.
Pictured are members from Unit 82 San Mateo, Unit 105 Redwood City, Unit 238 Pacifica, and Unit 585 San Carlos. Unable to attend but contributed are Unit 472 George Tadlock eUnit and Unit 474 Coastside.