Operation Help Our Vets held at VANIHCS Mishawka Clinic
VA Northern Indiana Health Care System (VANIHCS) Mishawka Clinic and Center Development & Civic Engagement Service (CDCE) partnered with the St. Joseph Valley Blue Star Mothers of Indiana #6 Chapter to host Operation Help Our Vets.
The St. Joseph Valley Blue Star Mothers of Indiana#6 Chapter is a local chapter of the Blue Star Mothers national organization. They cover 9 counties and provide services and support to Active-Duty Military, Veterans, and their families. Once a year the team hosts an event at the Walter Reed Military Medical Center located Maryland to provide donations to ill, injured, and wounded service members.
“This year we decided that instead of taking to the road, we would keep our event at home and assist our local veterans”, said Sandra Boldt, President of the St. Joseph Valley #6 Chapter.
The local Blue Star Mothers chapter chose the Mishawka VA Clinic to provide local Veterans in need with home goods. The event was held simultaneously with VANIHCS monthly food pantry. Veterans had the chance to shop for a variety household of items at no charge, Goodwill provided $50 Meijer and Wal-Mart gift cards, and $20 gas gift cards were passed out to each of the 144 Veterans.
“It was an amazing experience to be part of this wonderful event. The hard work, donations, and time spent preparing for this event was unbelievable. Over $20,000 in household appliances, cleaning supplies, bed linens, bath supplies, hygiene, food, cooking supplies, dishes, and everything in between was made available for Veterans to shop. VANIHCS and CDCE would like to thank the Blue Star Mother’s and their volunteers for choosing our location,” said Natasha McClanahan, VANIHCS CDCE supervisor.