Spreading the Warmth this Holiday Season

“If we can provide the basic essentials to our Veterans then we have decreased hospitalizations and decreased fatalities due to hypothermia. I think it is really important, and I think it is a really common problem that people do not realize still exists with our Veterans,” said Kristen Bronk, a registered nurse at TVHS. 
             
Bronk and other nurses who worked in the inpatient mental health units noticed that the Veterans staying in their unit were lacking in some basic essentials.

“It was heart-breaking as a nurse that was discharging them into the rain, snow, and cold weather, with holes in their shoes or no shoes, and sometimes no jacket,” said Bronk. “So, we saw a need and decided to do something about it.”

Bronk, nurses, and other inpatient mental health staff at TVHS started Project Warmth in 2022, and it was semi-successful, she said.

“With the initial setup last year, we did have the Center for Development and Civic Engagement (CDCE) approval and they helped coordinate it,” said Bronk. “I think that it is really important for people to know that volunteer services have always been there when we needed them but, unfortunately, they just do not always have everything that is needed.”

This year, Bronk decided to coordinate with other sections of TVHS to bring more awareness and donations to Project Warmth.

“I got involved with Project Warmth after talking to Kristen, and she told me about the project that they had started last year,” said Emily Alexander, a registered nurse with at TVHS. “Kristen was really wanting to get the word out, and ‘spread the warmth’ to our Veterans. So, I presented the project to fellow nurses in the resident nurse transition to practice program (RNTTP) here at the VA.”

The RNTTP nurses took the project head on to get the word out, make flyers, inventory items, and make sure the sites are ready for donations weekly, said Alexander. This year’s drive included drop off locations at both the Murfreesboro and Nashville VA campuses. Having a collection point at both locations has helped the project garner stronger word of mouth, and their ability to spread the word.

The original timeline for the project had been from October to early December, but the strong coordination across TVHS has encouraged them to increase the time frame.

“Originally it was going to end on Dec. 2, but with recommendations, we have contacted CDCE to see if we can extend it to February to cover into winter. Within the last couple of weeks, we have had people reach out to us to express their interest to help, and what is needed,” said Alexander.

Bronk and Alexander both appreciate the support of Dr. Chelsea Rothschild, program supervisor for TVHS primary care mental health integration (PC-MHI), and Dr. Brandon Baker, lead clinical psychologist for TVHS PC-MHI, in allowing them to put time and attention into project warmth.

For Bronk, she is glad that the message is getting out, and they can provide for the Veterans that they help serve.

“I think it’s making sure to take care of our Veterans,” said Bronk. “They sacrificed a lot, they served our country, and it’s the least we can do to make sure they are warm and safe when they are discharged into the cold weather and the streets.”

Project Warmth is collecting male and female jackets, shoes, socks, mittens, hats, thermals, and more. They request that the items be new or gently used. For gently used items, a dry cleaning bag is required for storage purposes. The project is set to run from October through February. For more information on donating, please contact Kristen.bronk@va.gov (Nashville VA POC), Emily.Alexander@va.gov (Alvin C. York VA POC), or Pennie.minor@va.gov (Liberty Square VA POC).