“There’s no project too small.”
 
Kathy Bellinger, Pendleton, Ind., Unit 117 secretary, shares that advice to all ALA members. It stems from a project, “Serving Those Who Served,” with Unit 117 Executive Committee Member Ann Overmyer.
 
For this project, Bellinger and Overmyer work together to make gift bags for veterans — both residents and staff — of Rawlins House and Fall Creek Retirement facilities in Pendleton. 
 
As of now, the project serves 21 veterans and a spouse. With the aid of other unit members, Bellinger and Overmyer work together to find quality, accessible, and fair-priced items for the bags.
 
Thought is put into every aspect of the bag — from pre-sharpening pencils for crossword puzzles to having easy-to-hold cups. 
 
To ensure the needs and wants of the residents are met, Bellinger and Overmyer regularly reach out to the facilities for that information. They stuff the bags with a range of toiletries, snacks, entertaining activities, and patriotic goodies. 
 
The goal of the gift bags is to show care and support to the veterans, providing a gift greater than the bag. Originally a Christmas project, it evolved to visiting and gifting the bags at least once every three months. 
 
“We had been doing gift bags at Christmas for the veterans, but we felt like it wasn’t enough,” Overmyer said. “A lot of people do things for the veterans at Christmas time, but they’re just kind of forgotten the other part of the year. We decided we wanted to do something on a regular basis for them, so they knew we cared about them.”
 
Around February and March 2026, the unit decided to update their Christmas project to a more regular basis, rolling it out in May.
 
Their project is still in the beginning stages, but the lasting impact they aim to provide is through connection. 
 

During their first visit to the facilities, Overmyer and Bellinger connected with 98-year-old U.S. Navy and Navy Reserve veteran Carl Scott. 
 
While socializing with Scott, he shared his story — not only of his service starting in 1945, but how his time in the military gave him the skills to be a masterful metal worker. He shared ironworks he’d created that Overmyer and Bellinger described as beautiful and phenomenal, such as a wrought iron bed frame. 
 
Bellinger and Overmyer were a conduit for Scott to share his daily life. In between tales from the past, he showed off his knowledge about the birds visiting feeders outside his room window. 
 
To the unit members, their time and conversations with Scott were the highlight of the experience — one they wish to continue with more veterans. 
 
“These [veterans] have something to say, and they’re very interesting,” Bellinger said. “I think [Scott] was really happy we were there, and we acknowledged [the veterans] and just wanted to spend time with them.”
 
Unfortunately, after the interview, Scott passed away.
 
Overmyer and Bellinger recognize that their project, though simple, can mean so much — an impact they hope to continue and advise anyone else to do. 
 
“Don’t think just because you can’t do some big, grand gesture that you shouldn’t do anything because [veterans] appreciate even the smallest thing,” Bellinger said.