Valentines for Vets

This Valentine’s Day, join the American Red Cross in sharing your care, support and thanks for the special group of men and women who are hospitalized veterans of the U.S. armed services. The Greater Richmond Chapter of the Red Cross in conjunction with the National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans Week, Feb. 8 – 14th, invites you to select a heart today and provide much-needed items to support the daily care of these courageous war heroes.

Your donations will be distributed to veterans at Hunter Holmes McGuire Richmond VA Medical Center (McGuire RVAMC). The McGuire RVAMC services are available to over more than 200,000 veterans from central and southern Virginia as well as parts of northern North Carolina. The Center is also the primary national facility for veterans with spinal cord injuries.

To learn more or to select your gift please visit the Chapter’s website.

McGuire Gift Campaign

McGuire gift campaign continues to harvest community’s love 

 

Kathleen Bernard appreciates the sacrifices of American veterans so when she heard about our McGuire Holiday Gift Campaign she collected a barrage of game systems for patients at McGuire. “Our veterans are this country’s past, present and future,” said Kathleen. “They should be given everything that they need to be healthy of mind, body and soul.”  Thank you, Kathleen and all the other generous donors to this year’s campaign. Pictured are Kim Leffler accepting the gifts from Kathleen and her co-worker, Chris Delcher.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Community responds with gifts from the heart for McGuire veterans and their families

 
When Sharon Sprouse and Debra Hoyle of “Papers by Design” heard about our campaign to collect holiday gifts for McGuire patients and their families, they put their talents and hearts to work. The end result was a beautiful collection of specially designed cards for the veterans to mail to family and friends. Sharon and Debra were helped by customers and friends who also wanted to remind our heroes that they are not forgotten. Pictured are Sharon Spouse; Red Cross volunteer Sandi Van Buskirk; McGuire Army Liaison Captain Renee Reagan; McGuire Marine Corps Liaison Gunnery Sergeant Jason Lawson and Debra Hoyle.

American Red Cross Collecting Holiday Gifts For McGuire Patients and Their Families

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Bill Harrison

(O) 804-780-2256

harrisonb@usa.redcross.org

American Red Cross Collecting Holiday Gifts For McGuire Patients and Their Families

Mechanicsville Military Family Knows Firsthand About Facing Challenges

Norman Rockwell paintings show the holidays as times when families celebrate togetherness, gathering to enjoy delicious food and warm hugs. But this picturesque ideal will not be the case this year for thousands of American military families. During the next few weeks as many of us concentrate on finding gifts for loved ones, military families will face other challenges. 

 

Many of the families are staying in the Richmond area so they can be with relatives who are patients at McGuire Veterans Medical Center. Many of the war injured find McGuire their home for weeks to months with their families traveling from across the country to be with them.

 

Being away from home, family and work takes its toll. To help the families face these overwhelming challenges, the American Red Cross, for the past three years, has collected gifts during the holidays for McGuire patients and their families. This year’s corporate sponsor is Cornerstone Architects.

Brian and Angie Pearce, knows all too well how life can quickly change. Brian was wounded October 20, 2006 while serving in Baghdad. As a result of his injuries he is severely sight impaired. After spending 47 days in Walter Reed, he was transferred to McGuire. The family was able to spend the holidays in a local hotel, but Mrs. Pearce easily recalls how meaningful it was to receive holiday wishes from people even if they were strangers.

Since that time, the Pearce family decided to call Mechanicsville home.

 

“It was overwhelming and gratifying to see that they are people who want to help in our time of need,” she said. “As little as it might seem, just to stop by the hospital room and say happy holidays, meant a lot.”

 

“There is no way that anyone can adequately say thank you for what these brave Americans have done,” stated Cornerstone principal, Richard Morse. “It is a privilege to fund this project. These heroes need to know that they are not forgotten, especially when most of them will be away from their families during the holidays,” 

 

Suggested gifts include gift certificates for casual dining

restaurants, sporting events, video stores, sporting goods and department stores, new CDs, books, toiletry items, pajamas and video games. Restaurant gift and sporting event certificates allow families to sometimes take their loved ones out of the hospital to enjoy a “normal” time, if only for a brief period. 

 

Monetary donations will help the Red Cross provide the day-to-day support that is offered to the patients and their families year round.  Red Cross volunteers provide emotional support as well as writing letters, running errands and connecting families with financial assistance programs.

 

“This is a great opportunity for schools, civic organizations and other groups,” stated Greater Richmond Chapter CEO, Reggie Gordon. “It is a project that will not only make a huge difference in the lives of many people who are facing painful times, but also offers an opportunity that allows us all to give back.” 

 

Gifts should be delivered to the Red Cross at 420 East Cary Street, Richmond, Va. 23219 or mailed to P.O. Box 655, Richmond, Va. 23218. by December 19^th. Office hours are Monday-Friday, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm. For more information, call 780-2256.