photo by: Gage Vota

Flushing American Legion Rider Post 366 Director Bruce Harrison, left, presents a $10,000 to Freedom Tree Founders Robin and Robert Thomas.

The Flushing American Legion Riders Post 366 donated a $10,000 check to Thomas Auto Center’s Military Freedom Tree.

This year’s donation marks the largest that the Freedom Tree has received.

The Freedom Tree is an annual fundraising benefit for Ohio Valley veterans and families of veterans during the holiday season.

The yearly fundraiser was founded by Robin and Robert Thomas in 2012 as a way to give back to the people who fought for our freedoms. Robert Thomas said that the decision to create the fundraiser came when he moved Thomas Auto Center to its current location. He felt that he was fortunate enough to be able to upgrade his business to a significantly larger building and he wanted to find a way to give back.

Inspired by other Ohio Valley fundraisers and charities the couple decided that they wanted to do something for local veterans.

“We can’t do enough for our veterans, we’re just so fortunate that they afforded us our freedom,” Robert Thomas said.

He added that this upcoming holiday season is slated to feature the most donations the organization has both received and given out. Yet he also believes that there are still several veterans in the area that need the help but won’t reach out because of pride.

“It shouldn’t be that way because these people gave us our freedom,” Robin Thomas said. “I want to make it perfectly clear that this is not charity, it’s our way to thank these people for giving us our freedom.”

The donation comes from a poker run the Legion post hosted this past June, with more than 150 motorcycles participating.

“We”ve been teamed up with Robert and Robin since 2017, and we had 18 bikes and maybe 40 people,” Flushing American Legion Riders Director Bruce Harris said.

Harris believes the poker run has grown to become one of, if not the largest poker run in the Ohio Valley.

“When we were looking to start our poker run we were looking for a foundation to give our money to,” Harris said. “We were looking for somebody and a few things led us to them. The first thing that led us to them was that all of the families are local and the second thing is that 100% of the money goes to the veterans.”

The Freedom Tree doesn’t just accept monetary donations. It also accepts donated items. It accepts the donations all year long, but usually cuts off the donations each year’s holiday season on December 16.

“We try to cut it off around December 16 so that will give us some time, because their big thing is usually a Walmart gift card for however many members are in the family,” Robin Thomas said. “We want to make sure that they’ve got it in time.”

She added that, although the organization greatly appreciates donations of any kind, it is in need of donations for teenagers and the elderly.

“We are in dire need for donations for teenagers and the elderly, we are at a shortage for our older people and our teenage kids,” Robin Thomas said. “So Bath and Body gift cards, or Old Navy, just stuff that the kids enjoy to have.”

The organization has been invited to attend the Dec. 7 Christmas concert “The Gift” at the Capitol Theater by Jo Ann Jones, one of the artists performing. The Freedom Tree will be on stage during the concert with members of the Flushing American Legion Riders accepting donations in the lobby of the theater that night.

“I can’t say enough about the Legion riders, because they’re what made us grow,” Robert Thomas said. “I don’t know where we would be today if it wasn’t for not only them but the entire village of Flushing.”

To donate to the Freedom Tree, contact Robert Thomas at 740-694-0452.