New Jersey Unit 286 Junior member Rosie Widmer makes trading cards of service dogs for their handlers to give out to those interested in petting the working dog. 
 
“When I was younger, we went to a carnival or festival and they were handing out cards for the service dogs with just a little information to get to know them — it was one of the stalls set up,” said Widmer. “I went to Mission Training last year and they brought in a service dog. And they showed us all the service dogs’ tricks, and that memory sort of came back up and that’s where this idea came from.”
 
Widmer works with her mom, ALA member Shannon Widmer, on the project. They find someone who is specifically a Legion member with a service dog and gather information and photos from that Legionnaire about the dog. After, they contact a printing company for quotes and then fundraise through bake sales and donations. 
 
The dogs she has worked with so far have handed out thousands of cards. 
 
Sarge is on his third batch, which is actually 3,000 cards, and a few other dogs are on their first batch, which is 1,000 cards. 
 
Sarge’s cards have been handed out at Legion College, New Jersey Department Convention, and National Convention — “which means people all around the United States have cards of Sarge,” Widmer added.  
 
On each card is a photo of the dog, its birthdate, breed, favorite snack, who their handler is, and a biography of the dog.
 
Widmer offers advice for fellow Junior members who may want to take on a similar project. 
 
“Go for it,” she said. “Instead of rejecting a kid from petting their dog [because the dog is working], this is a little fun thing they can hand the kid, and it explains everything.”