OPERATION "TAKING IT TO THE STREETS"
FEEDING OUR COMMUNITY DURING THIS DIFFICULT TIME IN AMERICA
n March 19, 2020, the Toledo Buffalo Soldiers conducted "Operation With Unity Feeding Our Community." The operation was in partnership with Off The Rails food trolley. The food trolley is a commercial kitchen on wheels. We are able to place the trolley right in the middle of a community and cook on the spot hot meals to go. We went into communities that were economically hurt by the Coronavirus pandemic. Most heads of households had lost their jobs and were having difficulty providing meals for their families. Children that would ordinarily be provided meals at school were unable to receive those meals due to the their closing. So we joined so many other charitable organization to help provide meals to families. To date, we have provided over 15,000 meals to residents of the Lucas County Housing Authority. We also provided information on how to prepare for disasters and emergencies, focusing on conditions related to the pandemic. What an awesome humanitarian operation thanks to all our private and public sector partnerships. Thank you all. Without you we could not have enjoyed the success of this operation. You really do make a difference in the lives of children and our communities.
Toledo Buffalo Soldiers interaction with community, receiving recognition, having great fellowship, etc.
Toledo Buffalo Soldiers participated in the Boys to Men's Conference
On Sept. 19th, the Toledo Buffalo Soldiers participated in the 2015 Boys to Men's Conference, hosted at the University of Toledo. We conducted the "What To Do When Stopped By Police" program. This program provides information on how to conduct yourself during citizen police encounters. Compliance and complain later is the message, if one believes the police is wrong. You cannot win on the street. The program also provides information such as; when police stop you in a car at night, turn on the dome light; make sour your hands are visible; turn down the music and keep taking to a minimum with passengers. Always communicate with the police officer where you are reaching if asked to provide information such as driver's license. Never just abruptly reach for something. The program also includes several hands-on exercises for students. Students role-play as driver, passengers and police officer. In the first scenario, the students playing roles of driver and passengers are instructed not to comply with the students playing roles of police officer. It is a fun learning exercise that encourages understanding and why one should comply. If there are any issues the citizen has with the police officer, they should complain after the encounter and not on the street.
TOLEDO / LUCAS COUNTY MILITARY HONOR'S FLIGHT, THE FINAL EPISODE
The Toledo Buffalo Soldiers have participated in the Military Honor Flight for the last time. What a bitter/sweet honorable mission. The Honor Flight of Northwest Ohio is an organization with a mission to fly WWII and Vietnam veterans, on a one day trip, from Toledo Express Airport to Washington, DC, to tour the WWII and Vietnam memorials, which includes the Wall. It is at no cost to the veteran. After 37 flights and over 2000 veterans that were served, the Honor Flight takes it's last flight mission on October 29, 2014. The Toledo Buffalo Soldiers salutes the courageous Military men and women it served and the organizer of this great mission.