Volunteers help hospitalized Veterans give gifts - Central Texas Veterans Health Care System
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Central Texas Veterans Health Care System

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Volunteers help hospitalized Veterans give gifts

November 30, 2010

Temple, TX.....Thanks to the hard work and fund raising efforts of many hundreds of American Legion Auxiliary women, hospitalized Veterans at the VA Medical Centers in Temple and Waco will be able to give gifts to their families and loved ones this Christmas.

"This gift shop is different than what you would expect," said Thomas C. Smith, Director for the Central Texas Veterans Health Care System.  "The gifts are not for the Veterans; they are an opportunity for our hospitalized Veterans to select gifts for their immediate families – their children, wives, and parents."

Smith said many of these Veterans either cannot afford to buy presents or have mobility issues preventing them to shop for presents.  "Because of the generous donations and fund raising projects held throughout the year by members of the American Legion Auxiliary, our hospitalized Veterans will be able to give their families presents for Christmas.  It means a lot to these Veterans who would otherwise be unable to give gifts to their loved ones," Smith said.

The gift shop works by allowing Veterans to bring their 'shopping list' and pick out gifts for their families ranging from toys to clothing, kitchen appliances, jewelry, and much more.  The gifts are then wrapped and mailed--all compliments of dozens of American Legion Ladies Auxiliary units.  The Veterans do not pay anything for the gifts, wrapping, or shipping.  Throughout the year, women in American Legion Auxiliary units across the state of Texas organize fundraisers and raise thousands of dollars just to be able to provide these free gifts for Veterans to send to their families. 

MEDIA ADVISORY – two opportunities to cover the story: 

  1. Waco – VA Medical Center:  Dec. 1 at 9 a.m. ribbon cutting to open the gift shop in the Chapel (Building 129) at the Waco VA Medical Center, 4800 Memorial Drive in Waco.
  2. Temple – VA Medical Center:  Dec. 7 at 9 a.m. ribbon cutting to open the gift shop in the Recreation Hall of the Domiciliary (Building 202) at Olin E. Teague Veterans’ Medical Center, 1901 Veterans Memorial Drive in Temple.

Media are invited to the ribbon cuttings and openings of both gift shops.  Media will be able to talk with Veterans and American Legion Auxiliary members.  Call (254) 743-2376 or (254) 743-1430, if you need directions. 

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