VFW Post is getting meals to people in need in city
By DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff
OCEAN CITY – Veterans have a message for Ocean City: We’ve got your back.
With Memorial Day approaching, Ocean City VWF Post 6650 wants the community to know they served this nation in war and they’re serving again with the battle against COVID-19 raging.
This time they’re not picking up guns. They’re making meals and buying and delivering meals for people in need.
Post Commander Mike Morrissey said the VFW answered the call and has been partnering with OCNJ CARES, a non-profit formed in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy that was renewed to help people during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We’re Ocean City guys and they told us we’re at war and we’re combat veterans so who better to go to war with? We’ve been putting out meals for state troopers, local police, firemen, Shore Medical Center and 27 meals three days a week for members of the community that are in need,” Morrissey said.
The VFW is doing its own cooking and working with local restaurants.
Morrissey was in the food service industry for years and his son owns a catering company in Richmond, Va., “so I know how to do some cooking. So a couple of days a week I’ll cook.”
So many members of the VFW Post wanted to help, but there were just so many people they needed so the ones who aren’t making or delivering meals have stepped up through their wallets.
“I asked for people to send me donations. Within 30 days I received about $16,000,” Morrissey said. “That’s the type of veterans I have the privilege of serving with. We have some good men in this town.” He noted his son, Mike, who runs the catering company, donated the first $2,000 to the cause.
While the VFW is making some hot and cold meals to distribute to people in need in the community, it also is helping a segment of the business community that has been hit by the pandemic restrictions as well – restaurants.
“I’ve hooked up with local restaurants to give them some business too so it’s win-win all around,” Morrissey said, ticking off names including Boyar’s Market, Piccini’s, Randazzo’s, Luigi’s, Jon and Patty’s and Arlene’s. “What I’ve done is asked them to provide the meals for me and I’ve given them a thousand each and when they need more money, I give them more money. As long as I have the money to give, I’m going to keep doing it. It helps them too. And guys like Jon Talese from Jon and Patty’s doesn’t even want to cash the check. We’ve got some quality people in this town. We really do.”
Morrissey said he and the other veterans want to give back to the community that supports them.
“This town takes care of the veterans so well that we have to give back. That’s what we want to be known for. We’re doing this because first, it’s our duty. That’s what we do. We all love our country. Obviously. We went to war for it. It’s our duty to do these things and I want it to be known that people in Ocean City help the VFW all the time and they support us all the time.
“In time of need I want it to be known the VWF shows up. We pay back,” Morrissey said.
He added that the VFW helps in other towns as well and cited VFW District Commander John Vollrath. Morrissey said he is proud of the people in the VFW.
“We’ve got some quality people in this organization. I’m proud to be their commander. This is proof of that. Look at how they step up,” he said. “That’s reward enough. We just want the people to know we’re there for them. We’ve got your back.”
In the time of need, who better to call than veterans? They answered the call in time of war and they’re answering the call now. “It’s also a thank you to our community. It’s a thank you from the VFW that we’re here for you too.”
Last week Morrissey said the VFW has put out more than 2,000 meals so far, he had 30 meals going out the day he was interviewed and by the weekend expected another 150 meals heading to people.
The VFW Post was putting together 125 box lunches one day and is also trying to do hot meals as well. “It’s all high quality stuff. I don’t fart around when it comes to what I buy,” he said. “I buy nothing but the best…. If I wouldn’t eat it, they’re not getting it.”
He laughed the food is definitely better than the C-Rations he ate while an infantryman in Vietnam.
“The mayor has always helped us. City Council has always helped us. The police have always helped us. The fire department has always helped us. These people cover our ass. I want them to know we cover them too,” he said.
He noted there are senior citizens who are scared amidst the crisis and appreciate getting the meals. He related a story he thought was terrific. “One lady, I talked to her. She was 87 or 90 years old, we send her a meal three times a week. She said to me, ‘I really love a bottle of wine once in a while with my dinner,’” he laughed. “So we took care of that too. I thought that was great. Just to make them feel better. Don’t be scared. We got you.”
For those who would like to donate to the cause, they can make out a check to “VFW Post 6650” and send it to Mike Morrissey at 327 Asbury Ave., Ocean City, NJ 08226. They should write “Food Project” on the check.
“I work with a lot of good men who sacrificed a lot for our country,” Morrissey said. “How do we thank all the guys who got killed? We thank them this way. It’s Memorial Day. How do thank all those men who gave the ultimate? We thank them by taking care of the country. We really feel sincere about that at the utmost. I took an oath and I’ll never violate that oath.”