UTICA, Jan. 26, 2010 -- Utica Post 229’s executive board recently voted to donate $500 to the Haiti relief fund being organized by Harold Provost Post 1686 in Utica.

Upon a motion by Albert Alteri, the board decided to support the efforts of fellow Legionnaires responding to the devastating earthquake that struck the Caribbean republic Jan. 12.

Legionnaire Marron McLeod told the Observer-Dispatch that his Legion post decided to organize a collection after watching TV news reports.

He believes that many people who have been watch­ing coverage of the earth­quake are looking for some­thing positive to do.

“When you see devastation of that magnitude, you got to say, ‘What can I do to help?’” he told the paper.

Post 1686 is located at 124 Seneca St., Utica.

The post is also considering a second bene­fit in the future to collect med­ical supplies, clothing and other material goods.