Albert Lea’s Leo Carey Post 56 of the American Legion and the Albert Lea Beyond the Yellow Ribbon group have teamed up to raise funds for Operation Comfort Warriors.

The two local organizations are holding a flea market fundraiser this weekend at the Legion club. Operation Comfort Warriors is a national American Legion cause that provides comfort items to United States soldiers recovering at medical facilities around the world.

“We just thought this is a good cause and came up with the flea market to raise money for it,” said Albert Lea Beyond the Yellow Ribbon chairman John Severtson.

The event will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and will continue from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the American Legion at 142 N. Broadway. More than 20 vendors have signed up to sell their wares, such as antiques and crafts, or to sell products from home-based businesses.

Vendors donated $25 to reserve a table, and 100 percent of those funds will go to Operation Comfort Warriors. Any other donations made on those two days will also go to that charity.

“We’re hoping people come out and see what the vendors have to sell and also to support the cause,” Severtson said.

Operation Comfort Warriors is an American Legion effort that started in 2008. It provides comfort items such as TV sets, iPods and also recreational experiences for soldiers recovering at military facilities. The Legion covers administrative and marketing expenses through its membership dues, so 100 percent of funds donated to Operation Comfort Warriors goes to comfort items.

“Both the Beyond the Yellow Ribbon and the Legion are here to support soldiers and veterans so this fundraiser is the least we can do for those serving our country,” Severtson said.