American Legion Children's Home In Ponca City Needing Help Now More Than Ever

By Rusty Surette, NEWS 9

PONCA CITY, Oklahoma -- The nation's only American Legion Children's Home is one of Oklahoma's best kept secrets, but administrators there said it's time to speak up and get in the spotlight because they need help now, more than ever.

For more than 80 years, the facility in Ponca City has served as a second home for children of veterans who could not care for their young, and for children who are placed in DHS custody.

Beginning in the 1980s, most of the funding came from federal dollars funneled through the state's Department of Human Services. Recently, it was learned if the center continued using federal dollars, it would have to reduce the number of children on campus from 62 to 16.

To avoid that from happening, the state directed the federal funds elsewhere and began using state dollars to fund the facility. It helps, but there's still not as much money as there used to be, so changes are inevitable.

"We will lose some of our staff and we will lose some of our kids," said Executive Director Bill Alexander. "It's hard on us and it's hard on the kids."

Children at the home range in ages of 11 to 18-years-old.

Alexander is trying to make the best of the situation. With less children, one of the dorms will be free. He wants to use that dorm to take in more kids from military families who need help, but the only way he can do that is through private donations.

That's why Alexander and his staff are making the plea to Oklahomans. They need financial assistance of any size.

If you'd like to help you can donate money through paypal by visiting the center's website at www.americanlegionchildrenshome.org or call 1-866-941-0110.

The center can also be reached via e-mail at alch@cableone.net