VA THANKSGIVING DINNER at VFW-10188 

It was in 1993 when then Post Commander Robert ‘Bob’ DiVarco and then LAVFW President (now Past Department President) Noreen Heuser where considering what they could ‘do-differently’ in providing care and comfort to patients at the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System (SAVAHCS). Together they decided why go to the VA? Why not bring the patients to the Post! Thus began a tradition that continues today. November 17, 2007, marked the 15th Annual Thanksgiving Dinner for patients from the SAVAHCS Blind Rehabilitation Center hosted by Tucson’s Casa Adobes VFW Post-10188.

            The “Happenings” for this event are well established: patients are greeted as they exit their transport from the VA (bus and vans) and are individually escorted to their chair in the Post hall. The patients are then provided with a collection of memorabilia, including mementos from kids and a coffee mug. Patients are then escorted to the buffet (or are waited on) and their plates are loaded according to their personal taste. Desert is delivered to their table. Afterwards there is considerable socializing with music. The patients clearly enjoyed themselves and were reluctant to leave.

            The most remarkable thing about all these ‘happenings’, is that they happened. There were no task assignments, there was no director of activities, in fact there was no one ‘in charge’. Patients need only ‘look-like’ they need assistance and a volunteer immediately appears to help. The volunteers spontaneously do what is needed without stumbling over each others feet. A situation that has all the ingredients for chaos instead becomes a symphony in motion. Moreover, every thing is provided by the volunteers, the Post merely provides the space.

            Post and Auxiliary 10188 members can take enormous pride and satisfaction in providing care and comfort to VA patients. Their performance is truly remarkable.

Slideshow of Event

Pictured is Post and District-5 Chaplain (and event creator) Bob DiVarco with the ‘Pilgrim Girl’ (a.k.a. Navy veteran and LAVFW-10188 matriarch Helen Glass) at VFW-10188s 15th Annual Thanksgiving dinner for SAVAHCS Patients (not pictured is Post Commander Mike O’Daniels and PDP Noreen Heuser who where not available for this picture).

Pictured are SAVAHCS Patients arriving at VFW-10188 15th Annual Thanksgiving dinner. VFW volunteers stand ready to give a helping hand if needed.

Pictured are volunteers who helped with VFW-10188s 15th Annual Thanksgiving Dinner for SAVAHCS patients (L-R) VA Director of Volunteers Debra Brookshire with her daughter; LAVFW-10188 Hospital Chair Buri lee Moore; LAVFW-10188 President Eileen Bedel with LAVFW-549 and Department VAVS Representative Lucille Lombardo.

Pictured are VFW-10188 volunteers who helped out with the Posts 15th Annual Thanksgiving Dinner for SAVAHCS patients: Auxiliary Chaplain Agnes Skoropad with Post Webmaster John Rice.

 

Pictured is one of the youth volunteers who helped serve desert at VFW-10188s 15th Annual Thanksgiving dinner for SAVAHCS Blind Rehabilitation Center patients.

 

 

 

Pictured are SAVAHCS Blind Rehabilitation Center patients receiving assistance from volunteers at VFW-10188s 15th Annual Thanksgiving dinner (picture taken with permission of the patients).