On July 19, our community was forever changed by the devastating tornado that ripped through part of Marshalltown. During Sept. 13-15 The Veterans of Foreign Wars held its annual Buddy Poppies fundraising event. Thanks to the generosity of the community of Marshalltown, it was a success. As event coordinator, I was apprehensive as I understood that so many are still struggling to recover from the tornado. I hoped that this event would be a success because of the number of programs that it helps to support such as the Honor Flights, The Puppy Jake program and so much more. At the VFW we believe that “to whom much is given, much is required,” that being said, we will always strive to be good stewards of what we have been given. One hundred percent of the money raised will go to support programs for veterans and their families. As a way of showing our deepest appreciation, the VFW is making a donation back to the community to support the long-term recovery efforts. We are so blessed to live in such a wonderful and supportive community and are very proud to call Marshalltown home! Thank you and God Bless.