Submitted by: Marian Davidson

Assistant for the Share program

A little less than three years ago, this young woman stopped in at the American Legion Hall to see what was happening on a Thursday night. It happened to be our American Legion Auxiliary night.

She brought in snacks that were left from a meeting she had just attended. She was invited to join the Auxiliary and after filling in an application, we voted her into the Unit and she paid her dues.

The next month when the secretary was absent, she volunteered to take the minutes of the meeting. Just a short time after that, she was elected as unit secretary and appointed community service chairman.

On Sept. 11, 2009, she started a program called “Share”. She got family, friends and Auxiliary members involved in this outstanding program.

It is a community program where people help people. If anyone has medical equipment that they no longer need, we pick it up and deliver it to anyone who is in need of it. She wanted the people of Abbeville and Erath to have the necessary equipment to make their lives simpler. Little did she know that it would not only spread throughout the parish, but also the surrounding parishes.

The program seemed to explode. The hospitals, doctors, pharmacies and health-care facilities have been so generous and have requested help for their patients as well.

When Susan Vincent (founder of “Share”) was nominated for Auxiliary Member of the year, we had no problem getting letters of recommendations from local medical facilities and Legionnaires. She was chosen for the Third District Woman of the Year and nominated for Department Woman of the Year.

The American Legion and Auxiliary held their annual Convention for the Department of Louisiana in Alexandria. Susan was one of four women that had been nominated for the award. Hearing her name as the winner for the department brought her to her knees.

She was given the opportunity to speak between the sobs. She said, “If you have an opportunity to start a “Share” program in your community, please do it because there is nothing more rewarding than going down Hwy 14 with a load of potty chairs to deliver.” The entire room roared with laughter.

She brought home three awards, Louisiana Woman of the Year, Louisiana Auxiliary Member of the Year and Community Service of the Year. She now competes for National Woman of the Year in Milwaukee, Wis.

She will be leaving at the end of August and we would like to let her know that we are very proud of her and wish her the best of luck. Win or loose she will always be # 1 to us. We are sure she will represent the American Legion family, community, state and nation with the utmost respect and dignity.

Although Susan is competing for National Woman of the Year, she is in need of the communities help to get her there.

Susan needs a sponser to get her to Milwaukee, Wis. for the American Legion Auxiliary National Convention for Aug. 27, 2010 - Sept. 2, 2010.

Some of the service she has given to the community through the Share program include:

–Donating and placing flowers on old grave sites (unknown, forgotten or no family)

–Volunteering her time to clean homes for veterans

–Feeding at least four families a month free of charge, plus delivery

–Buying water and ice for any kids in the community who attend sports practice

–Volunteering her time to care for disabled in Vermilion Parish when they have no caregiver available

–Donating incontinent products to local nursing homes

–Working side-by-side with hospitals to ensure each patient has their medical needs met

–Finding the program Share, which receives used medical equipment and supplies and then donates those supplies to those in need

–Recently finding the program Cans For Fans, which collects aluminum cans to buy box fans for the needy

–Giving out pamphlets on hurricane preparedness for those unable to pick one up

Susan also bought a gift bag to deliver along with medical equipment for Barbara Touchet. Full of gratitude, Barbara started buying gifts for all Share clients, which is known as Barbara’s Corner.

If interested in sponsoring Susan, please contact Share at (337) 918-6330 or (337) 591-2794, or send monetary donations to Susan Vincent at 213 South Broadway, Erath, La., 70533.