Veterans Day is a public holiday that is dedicated to honoring
anyone who has served in the United States military. The holiday began as a day
to remember the end of World War I and was declared a holiday by President
Woodrow Wilson in 1919. Originally known as Armistice Day, the holiday became
Veterans Day in 1954. Observation of the holiday through parades and meetings
was envisioned.
Today, many Americans will observe the day by attending
ceremonies and parades that are dedicated to honoring the troops for their
service. These often allow veterans to speak about their time in the service
and give Americans the opportunity to personally thank veterans for their
sacrifice.
Veterans have ongoing needs. Some are volunteer opportunities
and some are in-kind donations.
The VA Hospital in Iowa City has an ongoing
need for a Van Driver to provide transportation to and from the Iowa City VA.
Volunteers age 21 and over are needed once per week or as available from 6 a.m.
to 4 p.m. Drivers need proof of insurance, a valid driver’s license, and
require a government provided physical and background check.
In-kind donations are quality of life requests.
The list below includes such items for Veterans in Iowa’s VA Centers.
Day
Program (Out-patient):
Sponsor for morning donuts on Fridays only (program graduation day)
Bingo prizes – personal care items, fruit, candy bars, ball caps, phone cards,
etc.
Food and Nutrition:
20” Color TV for Patient Education Bldg.
Nursing Home Care Unit/Palliative Care:
Coffee filters
(Family Room)
Stamps, Envelopes
Rehabilitation Unit:
Videotapes
Sweat pants and shirts (five each)
Stamps – NOT already on envelopes
Binoculars
Coffee Server – an insulated pump pot or nice carafe
Psychiatric
Unit: This is a locked psychiatric unit. They cannot leave to make purchases
and many do not have access to money. Hangers (plastic) Postage stamps Money for socials (pizza, hot dogs, ice cream, etc.) Phone cards – 30 minutes each Squeeze tubes of lip balm – such as Vaseline DVD’s or VCR Movies (westerns, comedies)
Psychiatric
Nursing Home Care: This is a locked psychiatric unit.
Money for special events (chili, ice cream socials, pizza parties, hot dog
feeds, root beer floats, etc.)
Stamps – NOT already on envelopes
Phone cards – 30 minutes
Psychiatric/Domiciliary:
Postage Stamps – NOT already on envelopes
5 Movie passes to area theaters – one time a month
$50.00 Money for lunch outings – one time a month
$60.00
Plastic hangers – this is ongoing need due to patient turnover on this unit.
Patients do not give these back when they leave.
Socks
Table Games – Inexpensive games (many times these games lose their Pieces over
time and need to be replaced) Yahtzee, Monopoly, Cribbage Boards, UNO,
Scrabble, Chess, etc.
Crossword or Word Find book
Phone Cards – 30 minute Bldg.
Nursing Home Care Unit: Money for chili, ice cream socials, pizza parties, hot
dog feeds, special events
Stamps
Phone Cards
Nursing Home Care Unit: Sweatshirts – large and XL – zipper kind – please no
pullovers T-shirts
large Socks, large in the foot – prefer crew style
Recreation Service: Computer Software for patient use – can be bought at Best
Buy or Comp USA
Print Artist Deluxe 2003 (29.99)
Maintenance on Bird Aviaries
NHCU - $400.00 a quarter)
6 Packages of Photo paper – 4x6 Glossy
Phone cards
Money donated to cater meals during special occasions
CD players for each unit
CD’s for music libraries on each unit
Money donated for Women Veterans Group “Liberty Belles” for supplies,
Admission prices, and lunches.
Music Therapy:
50+ - Blank audio cassette tapes (90 minutes long-given to vets to record)
50+ - Blank audio cassette tapes (110 minutes long-given to vets to record)
(Sony or TDK brand)
50+ - Blank audio cassette tapes (120 minutes long-given to vets to record)
(Sony or TDK brand)
50+ - Blank CDs for recording music from personal stock or from Library for
veterans to use in music clinic (Memorex or Maxell) MUST BE CDR AND SAY FOR
“DIGITAL AUDIO”
6-Nice Sony headphones for use at stationery stereo systems in music clinic
Guitar strings – both nylon and steel – preferably light gauge
Guitar picks – thin and medium
Small radios that have nature sounds on them
Any type of hat, costume, funny shirts, and props that could be used for skits.
Monetary donations to the Creative Arts Account on station – used for local
Creative Arts shows, props, costumes, music, treats, and help with travel for
veterans to the festival each year.
Monetary donations to music in general for buying supplies, CDs, instruments,
or special treat for veterans in music groups or in music clinic.
Walkman Heavy duty stapler AA Batteries
CD Burner
DVD Player (Sony) Community Support
Outpatients on limited income: These items are used by patients who are moving
into the Knoxville area to continue outpatient treatment at the VA. Many of
these patients are on a limited income. Community Support would be happy to
take GOOD USED ITEMS!!
Postage Stamps
Garbage bags
Alarm Clocks
Gloves,
Scarves, and winter gloves in large or XL
Pillows – bed
Can openers - handheld
Billfolds
Blankets
Canned food items
Full and queen sheet sets – If used, PLEASE mark with size!
Bath towels and wash rags
Dish towels, dish rags
Phone cards – 60 minute Full size – no trial size please –
Shampoo,
Shaving Cream,
Deodorant,
Aftershave
Razors
Laundry Soap – powdered
Toilet Paper
Socks
“On this Veterans Day, let us remember the service of our
veterans, and let us renew our national promise to fulfill our sacred
obligations to our veterans and their families who have sacrificed so much so
that we can live free”.
Dan Lipinski
Find
a way to put action behind our gratitude. The needs of our veterans are
enormous.
