American Legion Post 79 has been a huge supporter of VCU Health Community Memorial efforts through the years. EB Reese, immediate past commander of Post 79, is shown with Ken Kurz, director of marketing and development at VCU Health CMH. Reese is presenting a $2,000 check in support of CMH’s H.A.L.O. Program.

H.A.L.O. is a non-profit volunteer group that seeks to make Christmas brighter for under-privileged and needy children.  H.A.L.O. is an acronym standing for Holiday Angels Loving Others.

According to Wendy Lenhart, director of radiology at CMH, who helps supervise the program for Community Memorial Hospital, “The profiles of children are received by social service agencies in Mecklenburg, Lunenburg and Brunswick counties. In order to qualify for the program, all families have been screened and determined to be under the national poverty level and to ensure they are only on one list to receive assistance. We ensure each child on the list receives clothes to include shoes, jacket and few items on their wish list.”

The program was initially started by CMH employees and a few local community volunteers, but because of the amazing generosity of the people and businesses in communities served by CMH, the program continues to grow.

The estimated cost for each child to receive the items included in the HALO program is $125.

Anyone else interested in sponsoring a child should contact Wendy Lenhart at wendy.lenhart@vcuhealth.org or call her at 434-584-5201.