Members of the War on Sobriety recently donated the money raised from yellow ribbons sold during Homecoming.

The group was featured on page one of The Daily Eastern News on Oct. 20. Many aspects of the story didn’t check out and were presented as such in the story.

The DEN found that the supplied name for the donation contact was incorrect, but the money promised actually was donated.

Andy Zerbian, a member of the War on Sobriety, said he had spoken to the commander of the Charleston VFW, then spoke with a women of the Ladies Auxiliary. Nancy Beabout, a member of the Charleston VFW Ladies Auxiliary 1592 and owner of Nancy’s Lettering, worked with the group’s fundraiser, which was selling yellow ribbons to signify support of U.S. troops.

The group raised $225 from that fundraiser. Zerbian then turned in a $225 check to Beabout.

The donation was set up to give something back to the real soldiers, Zerbian said.

He said he was the only person in contact with anyone concerning the donation portion of the War on Sobriety.

Zerbian also said he spoke with the army recruitment officer about the group making a donation, not about a float or humvee for the parade.

Another army recruiter suggested that the group donate chocolate liquor candy, shaped like alcohol bottles, to the soldiers, Zerbian said. That way the troops could have the candy and also enjoy a novelty from the groups theme.

The Ladies Auxiliary plans to purchase medical supplies and send them to Andrew Meyer, a medic in the Iraq war whose parents live in Charleston.

Beabout said the Ladies Auxiliary has eight people they send packages to. Almost all eight have connections to Eastern or Charleston.

“We send just anything and everything we can get our hands on,” Beabout said.

The women usually pack boxes with candy or shelled peanuts to send a little something extra to cushion the goods for soldiers. They also send beanie babies and stuffed animals. And every package always has an American flag.

The auxiliary has sent more than 500 pounds of goods since the war began, Beabout said. These soldiers are each located in different units in Iraq.

Nick Volek, a “general” in the War on Sobriety, said the group could have donated more money to the VFW, but didn’t because of the VFW’s lack of recognition of the group for the article in the DEN.

Volek said the group also made about $300 in personal donations to units where they personally know soldiers.

“We don’t care if people think we gave $5 or $1,000,” Volek said.

He spoke for all the “generals” of the war. “We know that we’re doing the right thing,” he said.

Anyone interested in donating to soldiers through the Charleston Ladies Auxiliary can donate at the Charleston VFW or Nancy’s Lettering, located at 1115 Lincoln Ave. Checks can be made payable to the VFW Ladies Auxiliary 1592.