For years, the Bellwood Women’s Club membership has donated time, in-kind goods and money to make the lives of veterans recovering or residing at Hunter Holmes McGuire Veterans Administration Medical Center better.
During a March 8 luncheon, at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia, Gerald Westry, chief, Voluntary Services at McGuire VA Medical Center, was the guest speaker for the more than 40 members gathered for a Saint Patrick’s Day themed meeting and meal.
Westry told the women gathered that he couldn’t thank volunteers enough for the work they do for the veterans.
“I want to tell you all that you’re doing a great job,” Westry said. “This organization has donated more than $500 and countless in-kind goods since May 2016 when I arrived.”
Westry said he has the best job at the VA.
“I get to interact with, tell stories to and raise money for our veterans,” he said. “I enjoy telling our story, and I get to say on behalf of all of us at the VA, thank you.”
While patients are staying at the VA, there are items the hospital does not supply.
Peggy Thomas, volunteer coordinator for the women’s club, regularly delivers items to Westry’s office for distribution to veterans. Items like toothpaste, mouthwash and dental floss; shampoo and conditioner, t-shirts and underwear are always in need.
“The VA supplies room, board and medical care,” Thomas said. “Sometimes a veteran will arrive with only the clothes on his back. The club makes donations to ensure that while veterans are in the hospital they don’t have to worry about whether or not they’ll be able to brush their teeth or hair.”
Westry told the group how the money donated helps keep veterans entertained.
“We are able to take the residents at the VA, hospice, patients from the Polytrauma Unit and at the Fisher House to the movies and sponsor games.”
Westry spoke about the veterans often not having the clothes needed for job interviews.
“Today, a young veteran came in and he didn’t have a shirt or tie for a job interview he’d scheduled,” he said. “We were able to give him a shirt and tie and assist him in tying it. We couldn’t do that without donations like yours.”
Donations made to the VA through Westry’s office are given in whole back to the veterans. There is no overhead costs for the Voluntary Services Office.
The Bellwood women often volunteer their time to deliver books, magazines, or to facilitate games for the veterans to play at McGuire, Thomas said.
“Bingo is always something people look forward to,” Westry said. “It’s upsetting to the veterans when bingo is cancelled for any reason.”
Westry said there are never enough hospital volunteers. Occasional volunteers, like those used to facilitate games, are not required to undergo the fingerprinting and background checks that full-time volunteers must.
The McGuire VA medical center does not solicit for donations, nor is the name of the VA to be used in solicitations through other organizations. However, for those organizations or individuals who inquire as to the needs, the following is a list that can use as a guide for special needs, program support and/or equipment. None of these items are available through the medical center’s normal budget.
Patient clothing including white "T" shirts (larger sizes); white socks (for women and men, ankle or no show); men's boxers/briefs and all sizes, most of our veterans are large or bigger); women's panties (sizes 6, 7, 8); women's undershirts/sports bras (all sizes); new sweat pants and shirts (all sizes, most of our veterans are large or bigger); thermal underwear (for men and women in all sizes). Patient comfort items including combs, denture cleanser, denture adhesive, men’s and women’s deodorant, body wash in neutral or masculine scents, hand/body lotion and 3 ounce bottles of petroleum jelly. Small size bottles are ideal, but not the travel/hotel sample size. Similarly, large, economy sizes are often too heavy or cumbersome for patients to handle comfortably. Medium sized items and approximately 8-12 ounce bottles are best.
For more information about volunteering or donating items, visit the Voluntary Services Office website.