INDIAN ROCKS BEACH — Thea Wilson attended the Nov. 12 Indian Rocks Beach City Commission meeting with one goal in mind: to spread the news that the local Wreaths Across America chapter is in desperate need of help this holiday season.
Wilson is a retired nurse at the Bay Pines VA hospital. She volunteers for the national nonprofit organization that’s dedicated to remembering the country’s fallen military heroes.
The organization places wreaths on their graves. Wilson explained the movement has experienced a significant drop in donations and participation over the past few years. This has resulted in a shortage of wreaths, and volunteers to place them at Bay Pines VA Memorial Cemetery.
“The last few years we have not had a lot of wreaths to lay,” Wilson said. “And it breaks my heart.”
According to figures posted on the Bay Pines section of the WAA website, only 3,100 of the 30,000-plus wreaths have been sponsored to date, a major shortfall with the Dec. 1 deadline approaching.
Wilson said they will be placed at the site on Saturday, Dec. 13. “So, we really need a strong push in the next two weeks to make up this huge deficit.”
Wilson said the effort quickly plunged from prosperous to dire after the pandemic and in the wake of the back-to-back hurricanes that hit here last fall.
“Participation used to be robust in the past, with church groups and youth groups coming to place hundreds and thousands of wreaths every year,” she said. “But those organizations have fallen by the wayside, too.”
She said the annual event, which is dedicated “to honoring the men and women who served and who are buried at national cemeteries and to let their families know they are not forgotten at the holiday season,” reached a new low last year.
“A scout troop traveled all the way from Valrico, and we only had four wreaths for them to place,” Wilson said, her voice cracking at the memory.
“We used to have to divide the cemetery into sections, because it’s a process. But it’s a very reverent process to volunteer for, and it’s just a beautiful sight to see when all the wreaths are in place.”
To reach their goal, Wilson said she’s had to resort to being a bit Grinch-like this holiday season.
“I want 100% participation,” she said, adding, “I’m being real greedy about this.”
Wilson said those interested in helping the local effort should visit the national Wreaths Across America website and select Bay Pines as the location.
“You can either do donations or sponsor wreaths, which cost $17 each,” Wilson said, noting all donations are tax deductible. “Or you can volunteer your time or to help to spread the word about our mission.”
Although she understands they have an uphill climb to reach their goal, Wilson remains optimistic.
“If every person in Pinellas County bought one wreath, we’d have it done!” Wilson said.
For more information on the local Wreaths Across American initiative, visit wreathsacrossamerica.org.