Before Sean Devlin first joined the Belleview Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 8083 about four years ago, he traveled to all the VFW posts within a 24-mile radius to help him feel out all the options he had when he moved from Virginia.
“It was the friendly atmosphere,” the Lady Lake resident said, recalling how it felt when he first walked through the doors of the Belleview post.
He said that it reminded him of the television series “Cheers.” “It’s like when you walked in everyone knows your name.”
The post continues that welcoming friendly feeling and doesn’t restrict themselves to just veterans who are members of VFW.
“Any Veteran that is out there is welcome in our post,” Devlin said.
Since 1966, the Belleview Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8083 has operated in an effort to give veterans a space to gather for community. On June 22, the post hosted a fundraising yard sale offering people deals they couldn’t refuse in an effort to help the post raise funds needed to make building repairs and upgrades.
The event helped raise $600 and vendors, which included veterans and residents from Belleview and Summerfield, sold items ranging from glassware to old military uniforms.
“We are looking for any way to raise money,” said Devlin, the adjutant for Post 8083, as he explained that the building the post operates out of needs a lot of repairs and upgrades. “Our roof is shot. It might last another year. There’s so much maintenance. We just replaced two a/c units and we have two more that need repair, and the kitchen needs to be redone.”
Along with building repairs, the renovations to the kitchen include a new stove, fryers and plates. Some of the new equipment needed is required for the post by the 2024 Health Code, according to a post on GoFundMe.
Sandra Vanderpool, the lead organizer of the yard sale, said the post has a goal of raising $20,000 for the repairs needed.
So far over $8,000 has been raised over the course of a year and a half, she said.
During the yard sale, vendors were asked to make a $10 donation. The post sold hot dogs and drinks as other ways to raise money.
“It’s very important because [Veterans] don’t go to a regular bars,” said Vanderpool, a Summerfield resident who has been a member for the Belleview VFW for three years. “They enjoy each others company talking about the past.”
She added the post operates as a community that runs on donations and support from the local community.
An example of the community support is how the post operates all based of volunteer efforts.
Devlin said that the post helps the community by loaning out medical equipment, helping veterans and their families navigate how to sign up for benefits, hosting programs in Ocala National Forest to help the economically challenged, and providing scholarship opportunities to local high school students.
Food and drinks are provided to the public by the post kitchen, with weekly $5 shrimp cocktails, steak and fish fry’s and days when the full kitchen menu is available. Local bands, musicians, and public speakers often come to provide entertainment for the eaters at the post.
There are efforts to provide mentorship to JROTC members at Belleview High School, though members of the post would like to work with more schools in the neighboring areas.
The post also hosts weekly game nights and events ranging from monthly birthday celebrations to bar bingo. There are also annual celebrations hosted by the Belleview VFW including Fourth of July celebrations and free dinners on Thanksgiving.
“It all depends on who has time for what,” said Devlin. “I always say ‘if you can give us a little time, we can do a lot.’”
Those who would like to give their time or learn more about how to join or assist the Belleview VFW are encouraged to visit the post at 12666 SE U.S. Highway 441, Belleview. To donate to the Belleview VFW, visit vfwpost8083.org.
Staff writer Brea Jones can be reached at 352-753-1119, ext. 5414, or brea.jones@thevillagesmedia.com.
