4th Annual Veterans Hospital Christmas Party

[Grime Busters]

This year marks our 4th year annual Christmas Party we are proud and honored to provide for the 200 patients confined to the VA hospitals "Old Vet's Home", the VA's hospice center.

We have placed 20+ donation collection boxes we have placed throughout the Valley for our 4th Annual Veterans Hospital Christmas Party 2010, in honor of our brave American Hero's. Anyone that wants to donate the material items listed on this attached flier, or send a check to me (4040 W Mission Lane, Phoenix, AZ 85051), made payable to American Legion Post 53. contact me and I will be certain you receive a 501c3 tax deductible donation form for your generosity.

Amazing at it sounds, but the most cherished item these patients desire is a 6 pack of brand new socks. Mind you, the majority of these Vet's are bed ridden, and the VA only provides them with these paper thin disposable socks. We all known how wonderful a brand new pair of socks feel, especially in a hospital setting where they keep the thermometer dialed down to 65 degrees.

Anyone is more than welcome to join us on 18 December 2010, begins at 2:30 pm. I also encourage those in other cities and states to consider starting this tradition at your local VA facility. Words are cheap and often diluted. Action speaks volumes over anyone's words. I promise you from the bottom of my heart that after you experience our event or put together your own event in your locality, you will never, EVER forget this day, the wonderful men and women American hero's you will encounter, their stories, and especially their gratitude. Ironic, since our primary mission is to go there each and every year to pay our respects and honor to these American hero's, but each and every year we leave feeling just as appreciated and full of the love and respect these wonderful Veterans share with us in return.

Thank you all in advance. Sorry for such short notice, but this morning is the first day without work and my first day of rest in weeks.

 

[welder]

Wow, that is commendable. There is a VA hospital about 6 miles from my house. Gonna visit it with some goodies. Thanx for the idea.

 

[Allison Heste]

That is really awesome. My mom worked in human resources for the VA hospital here locally for 30 years. This one was primarily for psychiatric patients. It was a pretty sad place. I think this is wonderful!

 

[Grime Busters]

In 2008, the American Legion Post I belong to, along with three other Posts, began a donations drive in September. Our goal was to raise enough money that we could purchase 200 DVD players, and acquire as many DVD's as possible. We did this because in 2007, our first year, we realized the 200 patients confined in the "Old Vets Home" only received three fuzzy TV channels via an outdated "rabbit ears" antenna system.

In less than 60 days, we raised the money, bought 200 brand new DVD players (at a discounted rate, thanks to one of our local big box stores), and bought and/or collected over 5000 DVD's.

We presented the pallet of brand new DVD players and built the shelving and set-up the DVD library. Very rewarding and a proud moment for many.

The only disappointment was it took the VA almost 7 months (and probably a grant from NASA) to gain the engineering certification to be allowed to actually connect the DVD players to each patients TV. Got to love our Federal government. They probably spent 10 times what we spent on the DVD players on engineering consultations and NASA engineers. We initially offered to install each and every DVD player, but was absolutely against regulations.