Belongings Buddy: A Simple Solution Making a Big Difference for Veterans
By Jeff Clements, Public Affairs Specialist
At the Richmond VA Medical Center, innovation often begins with a simple observation. For Rebecca Gallo and Cynthia Rice, that moment came when they noticed a troubling trend:
Veterans’ personal items like dentures, glasses, and important paperwork were frequently getting lost during hospital visits. These small losses can cause big frustrations and quality of life issues for some Veterans.
Determined to find a solution, Gallo and Rice began brainstorming ways to help Veterans keep their belongings safe, organized, and easily accessible. Their idea eventually became the Belongings Buddy, a brightly colored, easy-to-use bag designed with Veterans’ needs in mind.
“The concept really grew out of necessity,” Rice said. “We wanted something practical that could prevent the loss of essential items and give Veterans peace of mind.”
The design process took time and careful thought. Veterans and medical staff at the Richmond VA, as well as colleagues from other facilities they connected with through the VA Innovation Network (INET), provided valuable input that shaped the final product. To ensure accessibility, the team chose Velcro closures instead of snaps, making the bag easier to handle for those with limited dexterity. The bright colors help staff and caregivers quickly spot the bags, even if they are misplaced or accidentally sent to the laundry.
The response from Veterans has been overwhelmingly positive. Many find the Belongings Buddy both useful and reassuring, with some even suggesting larger sizes for added capacity. The concept has already expanded to serve Community Living Center and Spinal Cord Injury patients, and there is strong potential for use in disaster relief or even long-term care facilities.
One of the most exciting areas of growth comes from the Home-Based Primary Care (HBPC) program, which cares for 365 Veterans across Central Virginia. Ashley Hinkle, HBPC Program Director, sees tremendous promise in the Belongings Buddy.
“Our goals are twofold,” Hinkle explained. “First, we’ll use the Belongings Buddy to improve communication and coordination of care. Veterans will keep their current medication lists inside, so if they’re hospitalized, doctors will immediately know what medications they’re taking. They’ll also be taught to store discharge paperwork in the bag, so our team can review it when they return home.”
Second, Hinkle noted, the Belongings Buddy will play an important role in emergency preparedness. Each Veteran’s emergency plan, required by HBPC, will be stored in the bag. Its bright color makes it easy to find quickly, its size makes it portable, and its material helps protect critical documents from damage.
Beyond its practicality, the Belongings Buddy carries another point of pride. It is patented, produced by a women-owned company, and manufactured in the United States.
“We started with the idea of reducing lost items,” Gallo reflected. “But the Belongings Buddy has become much more than that. It’s helping Veterans, caregivers, and health care providers stay connected and better prepared.”
From preventing the loss of dentures to ensuring Veterans have their medical information at hand during an emergency, the Belongings Buddy proves that sometimes the simplest solutions can have the biggest impact.