Manteca’s Jimmie Connors Post 6311 led by Commander Carlon Perry is now officially the fastest growing Veterans of Foreign Wars post in the nation.

The post has managed a 146 percent growth in the past year. They are now up to 179 members as opposed to 60 a little over a year ago. Tonight at 7 o’clock 12 more members are being conducted during a meeting at the American Legion Hall on East Yosemite Avenue.

Perry is confident the post will hit 200 plus members by Memorial Day.

The VFW has also started Friends of the Post unit. There are already 30 applicants that want to help support veterans and their activities.

The post is still in need of funds to outfit the $1.6 million Manteca Veterans Center the city now has under construction on Moffat Boulevard so it can open in time for July 4.

The veterans are appealing to the community to donate funds to help cover the cost of furnishings such as a commercial kitchen, tables, and chairs and needed to make the new Manteca veterans Center operational. 

Memorial bricks being sold for $100 apiece allow a donor to have a message inscribed on them. The bricks will be installed as part of a walk of honor.

For brick donations or to simply help the effort you can reach VFW Post Adjutant Dave Bricker by either emailing bricker20@comcast.net or calling 456.7299. 

Perry can be contacted by emailing carlon.perry@gmail.com or calling 275.0410.

The VFW is a non-profit organization that meets IRS requirements for donations to be tax deductible.