VA COOKOUT

 August 11, 2007 marked the completion of ten continuous years that Auxiliary and VFW-10188 have held a Cookout for patients at the Blind Rehabilitation Center (Building 30), of the Southern VA Health Care System (SVAHCS), in Tucson … and their second ten-years begins in September.

            On the second Saturday of each month (only November is skipped - sometimes), Auxiliary and Members of VFW-10188 gather on the patio of the Blind Rehabilitation Center to setup a cookout. Often joined by VA volunteers, but clearly a VFW-Auxiliary led event, the volunteers put out a spread of food fit for Royalty. Hamburgers, Hotdogs, Bratwurst and Italian sausage are the main staples, but the condiment table is loaded with extras and the desert table contains an array of goods to satisfy any preference. Blind Rehabilitation patients are served first (no limits on how many servings); followed by VA volunteers. Sometimes patients from the Mental Health section (PTSD) join the festivities. VFW volunteers nibble on leftovers, if any.

            VFW Post-10188 provides some money to help defray cost, but most dishes are prepared by Ladies from Auxiliary-10188, and hand-carried into the Blind Rehabilitation Center patio. Nobody counts how many meals are served, they just keep going until the food is gone (surely well over 75 meals were served this day). Most of the patients eat their meal inside the air-conditioned cafeteria, but some hardy souls eat on the patio (and thus are closer to the food tables).

            This “VFW-Cookout” program was invented ten years ago by then Auxiliary-10188 President Kim Sloan with then Auxiliary-10188 Hospital Chairman Irene Dunn. VFW-10188 Chaplain Robert DiVarco has been a reliable partner from the first, and there are always Ladies from Auxiliary-10188 to help out. In the beginning even some of the kids would assist; those kids are now grown-up and have a career; and some of them have joined the military (such as Chrissy Harlan’s son Daniel, who is today serving in Afghanistan).

            The SVAHCS Blind Rehabilitation Center is famous; and Patients come from all points of the compass for treatment (an unverified rumor is that severity-level of new-patient macular degeneration is evaluated by observing how well they handle the latest edition of Victoria Secrets). Rehabilitation programs are tailored to the individual and follow two segments. In Part-1 patients learn “living skills” (navigating around without help), and in Part-2 they learn computer-skills on VA provided JAWS computers (voice recognition technology).

            An observer to these monthly Cookouts’ is struck by the extraordinary level of cheerfulness and camaraderie that takes place between patients and volunteers. VA Director of Activities Rita Ramey said it best: “It is impossible to put into words just how beneficial these VFW-Cookouts are. Patients at the Blind Rehabilitation Center are very lonely and homesick, so the VFW-Cookout provides a touch of home and is inspiring” (the patients also get a chance to show-off their navigation skills). It really is difficult to determine who is having the most fun, the patients or the volunteers.

            Auxiliary and members of VFW-10188 can take enormous pride and satisfaction in their continuing contribution to care of patients at the SVAHCS Blind Rehabilitation Center. They are truly making a difference.

VFW and VA volunteers take a break from their August Cookout duties for a group picture. (Front-row, L-R): VA Patient; VA Director of Activities Rita Ramey and Caydon O’Daniels (VFW-Commander Mike O'Daniels' grandson). (Second row L-R): Auxiliary-10188 members Helen Glass and Verna DiVarco; with Auxiliary-10188 Treasurer (and event creator) Kim Sloan. (Standing L-R): VA Volunteer “The King”, VFW-10188 Commander Mike O’Daniels; Auxiliary-10188 President Eileen Bedel; Auxiliary-10188 Chaplain Agnes Skoropad, VA Volunteer Harold Don; Auxiliary-10188 Hospital Chair Burilee Moore; Auxiliary-10188 Betty McDonald, VFW-10188 Chaplain Robert Divarco, Post and Auxiliary-10188 members Mike and (picture taken with permission of the patients).

Auxiliary-10188 Secretary (and event creator) Kim Sloan (left) and Auxiliary-10188 President Eileen Bedel make preparations for their August VFW-Cookout at the SVAHCS Blind Rehabilitation Center.

 

At left the “Official Cookout Fly-Chaser” (a.k.a. VA Volunteer Harold Don) together with the “Official Cookout Cook” (a.k.a. VFW-10188 and District-5 Chaplain Robert DiVarco) enjoy a few minutes of camaraderie at the August VFW-Cookout for patients of the SVAHCS Blind Rehabilitation Center.

Event creator Kim Sloan with Auxiliary-10188 Chaplain Agnes Skoropad prepares the condiment table for patients at the VFW-Cookout for patients of the SVAHCS Blind Rehabilitation Center. Also helping is VA volunteers (picture taken with permission of the patients).

Patients from the SVAHCS Blind Rehabilitation Center queue up at the August VFW-Cookout. Most of the patients prefer to navigate by themselves, but Auxiliary-10188 President Eileen Bedel (on the left) stands ready to give a helping hand if needed (picture taken with permission of the patients).

Pictured is Blind Rehabilitation Center patient Jerome Goff who is ‘showing-off’ his JAWS (voice recognition) computer system provided by the SVAHCS. Jerome is into his fourth week of computer training, and is now authoring a book (picture taken with permission of Jerome).