Greetings brothers and sisters!
I hope you are all enjoying the fall and all it has to offer. For me, this is my favorite season of the year. I love the cooler weather, football, and of course all things pumpkin. Although it’s important year-round, I think it’s even more important that we keep our hospitalized veterans in our minds this time of year.
Going through the holidays hospitalized and alone can be tough on anybody. A lot of us plan events for Christmas, but let’s also remember Thanksgiving, Veterans Day, or really, any day of the week is a good day to visit our veterans!
In September, my sister and I along with several other auxiliary members, volunteered for the VA’s annual baby shower. It is always such an honor to do this, meet the expecting parents and feel their appreciation for what they are given. I would love for us to focus even more this year on women veterans’ health. You can always host your own baby shower or make donations to baby showers others are holding. These events are a good opportunity for you to gather together all the resources available to women veterans that they may not know about and get it distributed to them.
Another area I’m going to keep talking about this year is recruiting volunteers. This is my third time as your hospital chair, and nobody has ever reported to me that they recruited volunteers. Remember, these volunteers don’t have to be auxiliary members. The facilities also don’t have to be VA facilities. If you have a facility in your area, reach out to them to see what their needs are. Then, as an auxiliary, vote on a project, and then start asking everyone that know if they’d like to come along and help. As your kids and grandkids, their friend, co-workers, church group or book club friends, ask everyone!
Please reach out to me if you have any questions.
Happy Holidays to all! Stay safe and warm.
Loyally,
Brandi Dolan
Hospital Chairman