Veterans receive $15k in cold weather clothing at annual Sweats for Vets
PRESS RELEASE
January 25, 2024
Martinsburg , WV — Veterans are a little warmer this week with donations of new sweatpants, sweatshirts, socks and other items at the annual Martinsburg VA Medical Center Sweats for Vets event on Saturday, Jan. 20th.
With over $15,000 in donations collected from various community organizations and assisted by 45 community volunteers, 212 Veterans were able to choose from among 500 sets of sweats and a variety of undergarments and coats.
“The sweatsuits donated to our medical center are used by the Martinsburg VAMC Center for Development and Civic Engagement (CDCE) to provide clothing to Veterans in need, including homeless, discharging inpatients, Domiciliary and VAMC Community Living Center residents, during the coldest months of the year,” said Terry Stotler, Chief of the Martinsburg VAMC CDCE.
Since 2007, Martinsburg VAMC has worked with community nonprofits to provide cold weather clothing to Veterans in the local community. This year, donations were collected beginning in October by The Knights of Columbus, VFW Post 1177, and The Ancient Order of the Hibernians who worked with various community groups throughout Loudoun County.
Stotler said this is the first full event since before COVID, in January 2020.
“It was wonderful to do a full event, with Veterans able to come in and select their sweats in person.”
Anyone wishing to donate or volunteer to serve Veterans for this event and other activities throughout the year can contact the CDCE at mwv-voluntaryservice@va.gov.
Pictured: Volunteers from left to right, Jay McCarthy, Ancient Order of the Hibernians; Terry Stotler, Martinsburg VAMC CDCE Chief; Bishop Joseph Coffey, Auxiliary Bishop Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA; Ray Delpesche, Commander, VFW Post 1177, Loudoun County; Robert Fey, Ancient Order of the Hibernians.