Each February, VA hospitals across the country celebrate National Salute to Veteran Patients week, as a time to honor and celebrate veterans. This year, the celebration will take place February 9-15. This is a great time to visit hospitalized veterans and show your support.
Many hospitals host events for Valentine’s Day, which falls during the National Salute week. Visitations and parties that were frequent during the holidays have died down by this time, and Valentine’s Day gives an opportunity to renew a connection with veterans who are hospitalized. If there aren’t events planned at VA hospitals in your area, you can still participate by getting involved in other ways.
Get together with your Lodge to drop off donations, schedule volunteer visits and plan additional activities for veteran patients this month. In the past, Elks have hosted football game watch parties, collaborated with a classroom or Scouting troop to create Valentine’s Day cards for veterans, and delivered supplies and treats to veteran patients.
If planning parties and events isn’t possible, there are other ways you can connect with veterans.
Consider volunteering with the VA’s Compassionate Contact Corps program. This program was created by the Center for Development and Civic Engagement (CDCE) to connects volunteers with veterans and facilitate ongoing conversation.
Veterans in the program are often given a "social prescription” by clinicians who believe the veteran may benefit from increased social connection. Volunteers are trained and carefully screened to be matched with veterans who share interests and experiences. Then, veterans and volunteers connect over the phone on a weekly basis.
For locations that do not have an active Compassionate Contact Corps program, consider starting a pen pal program with veterans you’ve previously hosted at your Lodge or visited at a VA hospital.
However you choose to support veterans this month, remember that a few hours of your time could mean the world to a veteran in need. To learn more about the National Salute to Veteran Patients program, please visit the VA website here.
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