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Woman sells face masks to raise money for Independence American Legion Post

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Posted at 8:20 AM, Nov 11, 2020
and last updated 2020-11-11 09:20:08-05

OLATHE, Kan. — Linda Clark knows what it’s like to have a mission. Most of her life has revolved around the military.

Her husband spent 30 years in the Air Force and their son followed suit.

“Words can’t describe how proud I am of them,” she said. “I’m speechless when it comes to what my family and our veterans have given to our country.”

Now Clark is giving back to veterans.

Since March, she’s been cutting, sewing and ironing face masks in her Grain Valley, Missouri, home. She started donating money from each mask she sold to American Legion Post 21 in Independence, Missouri.

“It’s just nice to know people still recognize who we are and the things we’ve done for this country,” explained Tom Tanner, the post adjutant and an Army veteran.

He said the American Legion helps veterans navigate their Veterans Administration health benefits, keep food on their shelves with a food pantry, have a place to simply hang out and provides college scholarships to children of veterans.

Clark’s masks have raised about $900 for the post.

“It enables us to continue with some of our programs and do the things we need to do to support veterans,” Tanner said.

So the mission continues for Clark.

“I wasn’t able to serve active duty, so this is my way of giving back,” Clark explained. “My husband served for 30 years, and, yeah, I tagged along and followed him, but he did the hard stuff. So I like to try to give back as much as possible.”

Clark sells her masks for $5 at the American Legion Post 21 located at 16701 E US Hwy 40 in Independence on Mondays and Tuesdays from 4:30 to 6: 30 p.m. You can also buy one on her Facebook page.