The Inter-Mountain photo by Amanda Hayes The Band of Brothers accepted a $2,400 check from Create Buckhannon Wednesday for a recent chicken barbecue fundraiser. Left to right are Band of Brother member John Simons, Create Buckhannon treasurer Melodie Stemple and Band of Brother members Dr. Larry Williams and Al Tucker.

The Inter-Mountain photo by Amanda Hayes
The Band of Brothers accepted a $2,400 check from Create Buckhannon Wednesday for a recent chicken barbecue fundraiser. Left to right are Band of Brother member John Simons, Create Buckhannon treasurer Melodie Stemple and Band of Brother members Dr. Larry Williams and Al Tucker.

BUCKHANNON — “What can we do?”

The Band of Brothers in Upshur County decided they could do a lot once again to help meet some of the needs in the region caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and economic hardship.

“There is such a huge need out there,” Al Tucker told the Upshur County Commission Thursday.

“With the pandemic, it would be easy to sit back and say it is too difficult, we can’t do anything.”

Even though Tucker was planning to “retire” from this heavy volunteer effort this year, he decided once again to go with part of the Band of Brothers’ mission to “pursue love.”

So the Band of Brothers talked about what they could do in 2020.

“We talked about it and we prayed on it and it really came to us quite quickly,” he said.

Although the Band of Brothers will still help support children this year, the major focus is on the most vulnerable during the pandemic — the elderly.

“There are people in every community living in a nursing home,” he said. “They don’t have any joy. They are lonely and sad.”

Because of COVID-19, those who have families have not been able to get regular visits with them.

Outside visitors are also not able to go for special programs and events.

“You can’t go visit them; you can’t hug them,” he said. “So, we asked the nursing homes, ‘if we give you some money could you do something around Christmas time just to make their day a little brighter?”

Tucker said the response the Band of Brothers received was overwhelming.

In addition to the local nursing homes in Upshur County, the Band of Brothers is partnering with the VA Nursing Home in Clarksburg and is in talks with several nursing homes in surrounding counties.

“We need to love our neighbors, too,” Tucker said.

They hope to be able to reach 12-15 nursing homes — more if funding allows.

The funding typically comes from calendars sold for $15 each — with Tucker’s landscape photography from throughout West Virginia and with donations. In the past, Band of Brothers members have gone to community events, craft shows and meetings to sell those calendars.

With COVID-19, those opportunities are limited.

“It’s much harder this year because I can’t go to Rotary, I can’t go to chamber,” he said.

So, the Band of Brothers is using word of mouth and the power of Facebook to spread the message — and it’s working.

Already, 500 calendars have been sold and Tucker said he didn’t think they would reach that milestone.

“It is really resonating with people,” he said. “We have people who are selling 30 calendars, people who are selling five calendars.”

The Band of Brothers has also begun working with local businesses to raise money.

Last week, Create Buckhannon helped the Band of Brothers put on a chicken barbecue that raised $2,400.

Tucker said that was an encounter with Create Buckhannon member Buck Edwards who arranged that fundraiser.

Over the years Tucker and the Band of Brothers have raised funds, they have helped a number of local organizations as well as mission projects, flood relief and many more.

Tucker attributes that to the people of Upshur County and their support.

This year, the Band of Brothers is looking for that support and people to say “Yes, I Can” to helping the Band of Brothers help kids from 1-92.

Donations can be made out to Band of Brothers and mailed to Al Tucker, 98 W. Lincoln St., Buckhannon, WV 26201.

Calendars are $15 and may be purchased by contacting Tucker at alanandliva@aol.com.