TRINIDAD — The Trinidad and Las Animas County community recently received a generous and much-needed donation for local veterans, thanks to the kindness of William T. Wilcoxson, President of the Pueblo-based Wilcoxson GMC dealership.
Wilcoxson traveled from Pueblo to Trinidad to personally deliver donations to the Las Animas County Veterans Council at Fort Wootton. The contribution included clothing, food, water, and other essential supplies to support veterans, many of whom are unhoused or temporarily stranded while passing through town.
Wilcoxson organized a clothing drive at his dealership, collecting gently used items that will now be kept on site at Fort Wootton for veterans in need. The donation featured leather jackets, shirts, shorts, and other clothing items, along with non-perishable food items such as granola bars, cups of noodles, canned sausage and tuna, Gatorade, and bottled water.
David Sampson of the Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center, who serves as Resource Veterans Officer and Community Development Coordinator, expressed his appreciation for the generous donation, saying it “provides food, clothes, and other needed resources to our veterans in our great community.” He went on to say, “This was a great collaboration between Mr. Wilcoxson and our county veterans service officer, Matthew Dominguez. Bill told me he is very happy and honored to support Trinidad, Las Animas County, American Legion Post 11, and all of our programs, including Fort Wootton and the support it provides local veterans. It took several trips to unload the truck and trailer he brought down.”
Sampson also noted that Mt. Carmel maintains a food pantry at their office in the Champions Building on Commercial Street in Trinidad, providing additional support for veterans and their families.
Colorado State Veterans Service Officer for Southeast Region 2, Ray Odum, also praised the effort.
“It is great to see communities working together to support each other and our veterans,” Odum said. “There is always a shortage of food and supplies for veterans and their families in our community. We thank everyone involved for these generous donations, which are making a real impact in Trinidad, Las Animas County, and throughout southeastern Colorado.”
This recent contribution is part of Wilcoxson’s ongoing commitment to supporting veterans across southern Colorado. He recently helped raise more than $60,000 for Mt. Carmel Veterans Services in Pueblo during a fundraising event.
Dominguez added, “Bill Wilcoxson has a great love for the veteran community, and I am grateful for the support he has shown us here in Las Animas County. No doubt, he will continue to support veterans in our community.”
The donated items are now available to any veteran in need, ensuring that those who have served our country receive assistance and support when they need it most.
Pictured below L to R are Mr. Bill Wilcoxson, David Sampson, and Ken Beck in front of Fort Wootton in Trinidad last week, with just part of a generous donation of food, water, and clothes for local veterans. Wilcoxson, the president of the Pueblo, Colorado-based GMC dealership, is passionate about helping veterans throughout southeastern Colorado. Photo by David J. Santistevean, Jr.
