Veterans Affairs & RehabilitationVAVS Rep/BINGO/Liaison - West Haven - Ruth Morgan
VAVS Rep - Newington - Debra Knickerbocker Rocky Hill Liaison: Judy Barnes Christmas Shops: Karen Thompson Entertainment - Bingo: Karen Thompson and Kristin Jones |
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Judy Barnes
(860) 655-6049
[email protected]
Rocky Hill Liaison
Judy Barnes
Rocky Hill Bingo
Karen Thompson
(203) 233-0956
[email protected]
Christmas Shops Rocky Hill
Karen Thompson
West Haven Liaison/Bingo
Ruth Morgan
(203) 215-9236
[email protected]
(860) 655-6049
[email protected]
Rocky Hill Liaison
Judy Barnes
Rocky Hill Bingo
Karen Thompson
(203) 233-0956
[email protected]
Christmas Shops Rocky Hill
Karen Thompson
West Haven Liaison/Bingo
Ruth Morgan
(203) 215-9236
[email protected]
2025-2026
Reminders - the Food Pantry at Newington VA is always in need non-perishable food items and gift cards ($25 Walmart, Stop & Shop and Aldi’s). West Haven VA and Newington VA are always in need of toiletries- (travel size Fixodent and toothpaste, non-alcohol mouthwash, shampoo, shower gel, bars of soap, lotion, powder), tee shirts, underwear- male and female, feminine hygiene products, sweat pants, socks, playing cards, word search and crossword books.
You can drop items off at the office and I will make sure they get to the VA or you can take them to either facility. If you are unable to shop for the items, you can send a monetary donation and I will be more than happy to go shopping!
The Women’s Clinic at WHVA is also in need of toiletries, feminine hygiene products and diapers for those little ones who come to the clinic with their mothers.
Stand Down will be held on September 18, 2026. There will again be 6 sites in the state. They are Rocky Hill, Bridgeport, Danbury, Stamford, Norwich and Bristol. Volunteers will be needed for every site. If you are interested in volunteering at any site, contact me and let me know. I would like to be sure that we have all 6 sites covered.
Hats/gloves, athletic socks or monetary donations to purchase these items are needed.
Thank you for all the support, donations ,volunteering and everything you have participated in this year to serve our veterans.
You can drop items off at the office and I will make sure they get to the VA or you can take them to either facility. If you are unable to shop for the items, you can send a monetary donation and I will be more than happy to go shopping!
The Women’s Clinic at WHVA is also in need of toiletries, feminine hygiene products and diapers for those little ones who come to the clinic with their mothers.
Stand Down will be held on September 18, 2026. There will again be 6 sites in the state. They are Rocky Hill, Bridgeport, Danbury, Stamford, Norwich and Bristol. Volunteers will be needed for every site. If you are interested in volunteering at any site, contact me and let me know. I would like to be sure that we have all 6 sites covered.
Hats/gloves, athletic socks or monetary donations to purchase these items are needed.
Thank you for all the support, donations ,volunteering and everything you have participated in this year to serve our veterans.
Reminders - the Food Pantry at Newington VA is always in need non-perishable food items and gift cards ($25 Walmart, Stop & Shop and Aldi’s). West Haven VA and Newington VA are always in need of toiletries-( travel size Fixodent and toothpaste, non-alcohol mouthwash, shampoo, shower gel, bars of soap, lotion, powder), tee shirts, underwear- male and female, feminine hygiene products, sweat pants, socks, playing cards, word search and crossword books.
You can drop items off at the office and I will make sure they get to the VA or you can take them to either facility. If you are unable to shop for the items, you can send a monetary donation and I will be more than happy to go shopping!
It’s never too early to think about knitting/crocheting hats/scarves or collecting socks for Stand Down which will be held on September 18, 2026.
Thank you for all your support of our deserving veterans.
You can drop items off at the office and I will make sure they get to the VA or you can take them to either facility. If you are unable to shop for the items, you can send a monetary donation and I will be more than happy to go shopping!
It’s never too early to think about knitting/crocheting hats/scarves or collecting socks for Stand Down which will be held on September 18, 2026.
Thank you for all your support of our deserving veterans.
West Haven VA clothes closet is in desperate need of toiletries (toothfbrushes/toothpaste, Fixodent, shampoo, body wash etc) as well as t-shirts, underwear, feminine hygiene products.
Refer to list included in PIC papers as they are in need of everything. If you are able, please take the items directly to WHVA Voluntary Services.
Newington VA can always use non-perishable food items and gift cards ($25 Walmart/Stop and Shop/Aldis) for their food pantry.
Thank you for all your support of our deserving veterans.
Refer to list included in PIC papers as they are in need of everything. If you are able, please take the items directly to WHVA Voluntary Services.
Newington VA can always use non-perishable food items and gift cards ($25 Walmart/Stop and Shop/Aldis) for their food pantry.
Thank you for all your support of our deserving veterans.
Happy New Year!
A heartfelt THANK YOU to all Legion Family members in CT who helped in any way to make the Christmas Gift Shops successful again this year. Whether you helped raise funds, made donations, shopped for gifts, helped prepare items, supported setup/breakdown, transported the gifts to the 3 sites (and back to the office) or attended the gift shops – THANK YOU! The veterans who visited the gift shops were deeply grateful.
Our next event will be to help celebrate the ‘Salute to Hospitalized Veterans’ in February. One way you can contribute to this event is to provide Valentine cards for the veterans – these cards bring some joy and brighten the day for them. Cards can be sent to:
VA CT HCS
950 Campbell Ave
West Haven, CT 06516
ATTN: Michael J Lejeune CDCE/Voluntary Service
VA CT HCS
555 Willard Ave
Newington, CT 06111
ATTN: Michael J Lejeune CDCE/Voluntary Service
Levitow Health Care Center
287 West St
Rocky Hill, CT 06067
ATTN: Recreation Office
Residential Veterans
287 West St
Rocky Hill, CT 06067
ATTN: Recreation – Matthew Bartolan
Again, thank you for all your support of our deserving veterans. It is a pleasure to
engage in this work with you.
A heartfelt THANK YOU to all Legion Family members in CT who helped in any way to make the Christmas Gift Shops successful again this year. Whether you helped raise funds, made donations, shopped for gifts, helped prepare items, supported setup/breakdown, transported the gifts to the 3 sites (and back to the office) or attended the gift shops – THANK YOU! The veterans who visited the gift shops were deeply grateful.
Our next event will be to help celebrate the ‘Salute to Hospitalized Veterans’ in February. One way you can contribute to this event is to provide Valentine cards for the veterans – these cards bring some joy and brighten the day for them. Cards can be sent to:
VA CT HCS
950 Campbell Ave
West Haven, CT 06516
ATTN: Michael J Lejeune CDCE/Voluntary Service
VA CT HCS
555 Willard Ave
Newington, CT 06111
ATTN: Michael J Lejeune CDCE/Voluntary Service
Levitow Health Care Center
287 West St
Rocky Hill, CT 06067
ATTN: Recreation Office
Residential Veterans
287 West St
Rocky Hill, CT 06067
ATTN: Recreation – Matthew Bartolan
Again, thank you for all your support of our deserving veterans. It is a pleasure to
engage in this work with you.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!!!
The Christmas Gift Shops are right around the corner!!
If you would be able to give some time to assist with setting up the Gift Shops, helping veterans shop, wrapping gifts – we would appreciate it very much. Call me at 203-233-0956 or email me at [email protected] to let me know when you would like to volunteer.
We will be setting up both Gift Shops at Rocky Hill (Levitow Health Care Center and in the Auditorium [for the Veterans’ Residence and Newington VA]) on Friday November 28 th . We will start at 9:30 and work until everything is set to go! Many hands help complete the job quicker.
Levitow Gift Shop will be open on Saturday, November 29 th with ribbon cutting at 9:00am and continue until 4:00pm. Sunday, November 30 th from 9:00am – 12:00pm. After closing we will be packing everything up and taking it back to the office.
The auditorium will be open on Sunday, November 30 th with ribbon cutting at 9:00am and continue until 5:00pm. Monday, December 1 ST from 9:00am – 5:00pm. After closing we will be packing everything up and taking it back to the office.
WHVA – set up Saturday, December 6 th starting at 9:30am and continuing until finished. Ribbon cutting Sunday, December 7 th at 9:00am and continue until 5:00pm. Monday, December 8 th – 9:00am- 5:00pm, Tuesday December 9 th – 9:00am- 3:00pm. After closing we will pack up and load the truck to return everything to the office.
Please consider volunteering for this endeavor.
The Christmas Gift Shops are right around the corner!!
If you would be able to give some time to assist with setting up the Gift Shops, helping veterans shop, wrapping gifts – we would appreciate it very much. Call me at 203-233-0956 or email me at [email protected] to let me know when you would like to volunteer.
We will be setting up both Gift Shops at Rocky Hill (Levitow Health Care Center and in the Auditorium [for the Veterans’ Residence and Newington VA]) on Friday November 28 th . We will start at 9:30 and work until everything is set to go! Many hands help complete the job quicker.
Levitow Gift Shop will be open on Saturday, November 29 th with ribbon cutting at 9:00am and continue until 4:00pm. Sunday, November 30 th from 9:00am – 12:00pm. After closing we will be packing everything up and taking it back to the office.
The auditorium will be open on Sunday, November 30 th with ribbon cutting at 9:00am and continue until 5:00pm. Monday, December 1 ST from 9:00am – 5:00pm. After closing we will be packing everything up and taking it back to the office.
WHVA – set up Saturday, December 6 th starting at 9:30am and continuing until finished. Ribbon cutting Sunday, December 7 th at 9:00am and continue until 5:00pm. Monday, December 8 th – 9:00am- 5:00pm, Tuesday December 9 th – 9:00am- 3:00pm. After closing we will pack up and load the truck to return everything to the office.
Please consider volunteering for this endeavor.
Big shoutout to all the units who donated to Stand Down and to all the volunteers who spent the day at the 6 sites interacting with the veterans and distributing all the items that were donated!!
Our next event will be the Christmas Gift Shops starting with Rocky Hill on Thanksgiving weekend and continuing the following weekend at West Haven VA. Rocky Hill – set-up for Levitow Health Care Center and the Auditorium on Friday 11/28/25. Levitow set-up will begin at (9:30 am until completed) Auditorium (10:00 am – completed) Levitow will be open on Sat 11/29 (9:00am to 4:00pm) and Sun 11/30 (9:00am-12:00) Auditorium will be open Sunday 11/30/25 and Monday 12/1/25 (9:00am – 5:00pm both days)
West Haven VA – set up will be Sat. 12/6 at 10:00 am until completed. Gift Shop will be open Sun 12/7 and Mon 12/8 – 9:00am – 5:00pm. Tuesday open from 9:00 – 4:00pm.
Volunteers will be needed for all the times listed. Any time you could give would be greatly appreciated.
Attached to the bulletin find the gift lists along with which Districts are asked to donate which gifts. Please get the items to the office by Tuesday November 19th to enable us to have everything ready to go on the 28th! You do not need to separate items into the 3 sites. Please remove all price tags. Include a note indicating the value and the actual cost of all the items together. You do not need to list all the items just the totals.
Looking forward to another successful year making the holiday season a happy time for our veterans and their families!
Our next event will be the Christmas Gift Shops starting with Rocky Hill on Thanksgiving weekend and continuing the following weekend at West Haven VA. Rocky Hill – set-up for Levitow Health Care Center and the Auditorium on Friday 11/28/25. Levitow set-up will begin at (9:30 am until completed) Auditorium (10:00 am – completed) Levitow will be open on Sat 11/29 (9:00am to 4:00pm) and Sun 11/30 (9:00am-12:00) Auditorium will be open Sunday 11/30/25 and Monday 12/1/25 (9:00am – 5:00pm both days)
West Haven VA – set up will be Sat. 12/6 at 10:00 am until completed. Gift Shop will be open Sun 12/7 and Mon 12/8 – 9:00am – 5:00pm. Tuesday open from 9:00 – 4:00pm.
Volunteers will be needed for all the times listed. Any time you could give would be greatly appreciated.
Attached to the bulletin find the gift lists along with which Districts are asked to donate which gifts. Please get the items to the office by Tuesday November 19th to enable us to have everything ready to go on the 28th! You do not need to separate items into the 3 sites. Please remove all price tags. Include a note indicating the value and the actual cost of all the items together. You do not need to list all the items just the totals.
Looking forward to another successful year making the holiday season a happy time for our veterans and their families!
Welcome to a new auxiliary year of serving our veterans, military members and their families.
Our first event for VA&R is going to be here very soon – Stand Down will be held on Friday September 19 th from 9:00am – 2:00pm in Rocky Hill, Norwich, Southington, Bridgeport, Danbury and Stamford. All members are welcome to volunteer at any site- please let me know at which site you would like to volunteer. Donations of hats/scarves/gloves/socks would be appreciated.
The second event follows right away – the Annual Baby Shower at West Haven VA is being held on Monday, September 22 in the Donaldson Room from 11:00am-2:00pm. Items needed are diapers/onesies in newborn and next size up along with baby wipes. If you are interested in attending or donating items contact Ruth Morgan at morgan71676agmail.com.
More information on VA&R will be given at PIC on September 27 th - hope to see many of you there! Continue to do all you do for our veterans. Thank you.
Karen L Thompson, VA&R Chairman [email protected]
Our first event for VA&R is going to be here very soon – Stand Down will be held on Friday September 19 th from 9:00am – 2:00pm in Rocky Hill, Norwich, Southington, Bridgeport, Danbury and Stamford. All members are welcome to volunteer at any site- please let me know at which site you would like to volunteer. Donations of hats/scarves/gloves/socks would be appreciated.
The second event follows right away – the Annual Baby Shower at West Haven VA is being held on Monday, September 22 in the Donaldson Room from 11:00am-2:00pm. Items needed are diapers/onesies in newborn and next size up along with baby wipes. If you are interested in attending or donating items contact Ruth Morgan at morgan71676agmail.com.
More information on VA&R will be given at PIC on September 27 th - hope to see many of you there! Continue to do all you do for our veterans. Thank you.
Karen L Thompson, VA&R Chairman [email protected]
2024-2025
The Blind unit at WHVA is receiving many new residents along with their service dogs. They are in need of dog beds for large dogs and noisy dog toys! If any unit can help with these items, let me know. The annual Baby Shower is currently scheduled for July but is awaiting approval. As soon as we receive the definite date, I’ll let you know. West Haven VA and Newington VA are always in need of toiletries, tee shirts, underwear, sweat pants, socks. You can drop items off at the office and I will make sure they get to the VA or you can take them to either facility. If you are unable to shop for the items, you can send a monetary donation and I will be more than happy to go shopping! Don’t forget the food pantry at Newington!
Now is the time to start preparing for Stand Down 2025 – to be held on September 19th in 6 places around Connecticut. Hats/scarves/gloves (neutral colors), white socks – (crew/over-the-calf/diabetic). If you are able to bag these items in gallon sized ziplock bags that would be wonderful! When bagging place hat/scarf/gloves in same bag, socks - place 4 pairs in each bag, label the women’s socks please. If you aren’t able to bag them – we’ll take care of that at the office. Continue to do all you do for our veterans. Thank you.
Karen L Thompson, VA&R Chairman [email protected]
Welcome to Spring -finally!
The Blind unit at WHVA is receiving many new residents along with their service dogs. They are in need of dog beds for large dogs and noisy dog toys! If any unit can help with these items, let me know. The annual Baby Shower is currently scheduled for July but is awaiting approval. As soon as we receive the definite date, I’ll let you know. West Haven VA and Newington VA are always in need of toiletries, tee shirts, underwear, sweat pants, socks. You can drop items off at the office and I will make sure they get to the VA or you can take them to either facility. If you are unable to shop for the items, you can send a monetary donation and I will be more than happy to go shopping! Don’t forget the food pantry at Newington!
Now is the time to start preparing for Stand Down 2025 – to be held on September 19 th in 6 places around Connecticut. Hats/scarves/gloves (neutral colors), white socks – (crew/over-the-calf/diabetic). If you are able to bag these items in gallon sized ziplock bags that would be wonderful! When bagging place hat/scarf/gloves in same bag, socks - place 4 pairs in each bag.
If you aren’t able to bag them – we’ll take care of that at the office.
Continue to do all you do for our veterans. Thank you.
Reminders - the Food Pantry at Newington VA is always in need of items. West Haven VA and Newington VA are always in need of toiletries, tee shirts, underwear, sweat pants, socks.
You can drop items off at the office and I will make sure they get to the VA or you can take them to either facility. If you are unable to shop for the items, you can send a monetary donation and I will be more than happy to go shopping!
Thank you for all you do for our veterans.
Message from our VAVS Representative at Newington VA – Debra Knickerbocker
Newington VA has given us every Thursday of the month to hold a coffee hour for the veterans in the lobby. For the past year or so we have been doing a coffee hour every month with help from Ruth and Wayne Morgan for a second one sometimes. I think it would be great if we could get six more people (TWO A WEEK) to volunteer on Thursdays between 830 and noon and serve coffee to our veterans. They make the coffee for us so we do not have to do anything except maybe bring snacks paid for by our department VA&R budget. Many of you wanted to volunteer and couldn’t because of Covid and the hospital was not letting us in, but that has changed now, they really need us. Newington is in the middle of the state so it shouldn’t be far for pretty much anyone, if you can give me three hours, please contact me. I would really like to give the veterans more than just one week in the month.
Reminders - the Food Pantry at Newington VA is always in need of items. West Haven VA is always in need of toiletries, tee shirts, underwear, sweat pants. You can drop items off at the office and I will make sure they get to the VA or you can take them to either facility. Thank you for all you do for our veterans.
The National Salute to Veteran Patients is February 10-16, 2025. This also is the week of Valentine’s Day. The patients enjoy receiving valentine’s cards. If you would like to send cards to veterans in Newington or West Haven see the following addresses. If you would like to send them to Rocky Hill – address them to our office and we’ll get them to the veterans.
VA CTHCS
ATTN: Voluntary Service/CDCE
555 Willard Ave
Newington, CT 06111
VA CTHCS
ATTN: Voluntary Service/CDCE
950 Campbell Ave
West Haven, CT 06516
Reminders - the Food Pantry at Newington VA is always in need of items. West Haven VA is always in need of toiletries, tee shirts, underwear, sweat pants. You can drop items off at the office and I will make sure they get to the VA or you can take them to either facility. Thank you for all you do for our veterans.
Karen L Thompson, VA&R Chairman [email protected]
Happy New Year!
Heartfelt thanks to all who participated in the Christmas Gift Shops. Whether it was buying and donating gifts, helping to move the gift shop items to and from the office, setting up the shops or volunteering to shop and wrap – all your time and effort helped to make all 3 shops successful. It was wonderful to see so many American Legion and SAL members join us in spreading joy this holiday season.
As a new year begins remember that the Food Pantry at Newington VA is always in need of items. Also, West Haven VA is always in need of toiletries, tee shirts, underwear, sweat pants. You can drop items off at the office and I will make sure they get to the VA or you can take them to either VA.
Thank you for all you do for our veterans.
Karen L Thompson, VA&R Chairman
[email protected]
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
The Christmas Gift Shops are right around the corner!!
The Gift Shops at Rocky Hill are happening this weekend– any and all volunteers are welcome– come one, come all!! West Haven VA Gift Shop 12/7-12/9.
If you would be able to give some time to assist with setting up the Gift Shops, helping veterans shop, wrapping gifts– we would appreciate it very much. Call me at 203-233-0956 or email me at [email protected] to let me know when you would like to volunteer.
Thank you to all those who have already helped whether it be by donating money (which was used to purchase items) or by shopping for gifts– everyone has been extremely generous and I know the veterans will have a great shopping experience choosing gifts for their families!
Karen L Thompson, VA&R Chairman
[email protected]
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!!!
The Christmas Gift Shops are right around the corner!! If you would be able to give some time to assist with setting up the Gift Shops, helping veterans shop, wrapping gifts – we would appreciate it very much. Call me at the office 203-233-0956 or email me at [email protected] to let me know when you would like to volunteer.
We will be setting up both Gift Shops at Rocky Hill (Levitow Health Care Center and in the Auditorium [for the Veterans’ Residence and Newington VA]) on Friday November 29th. We will start at 9:30 and work until everything is set to go! Many hands help complete the job quicker. Levitow Gift Shop will be open on Saturday, November 30th with ribbon cutting at 10:00am and continue until 4:00pm. Sunday, December 1st from 9:00am – 1:00pm. After closing we will be packing everything up and taking it back to the office.
The auditorium will be open on Sunday, December 1st with ribbon cutting at 9:00am and continue until 5:00pm. Monday, December 2nd from 9:00am – 5:00pm.After closing we will be packing everything up and taking it back to the office.
WHVA – set up Saturday, December 7th starting at 9:00am and continuing until finished. Ribbon cutting Sunday, December 8th at 9:00am and continue until 5:00pm. Monday, December 9th – 9:00am- 5:00pm. After closing we will pack up and load the truck to return everything to the office. Please consider volunteering for this endeavor.
Karen L Thompson, VA&R Chairman [email protected]
Members,
Stand Down was held September 20, 2024, in six (6) locations around the state. Thank you to everyone who knitted/crocheted hats/scarves/small Afghans, donated toiletries and other items, bagged socks and donated your time to make it a success. If you are working knitting/crocheting for next year we are in need of neutral color hats/scarves – black, brown, navy, gray and dark green.
We will be holding the Christmas Gift Shops in November. This year we are able to hold the Gift Shop in person at the WHVA!!! Volunteers and gifts will be needed for all 3 Gift Shops. The gift shops at Rocky Hill are as follows – November 29th – set up Levitow and Auditorium, November 30th Levitow gift shop open. December 1st, Levitow and Auditorium open and December 2nd, Auditorium open. The Auditorium is open to veterans living in the Veterans Residence. We also ask any veterans who use the Newington facilities if they would like to attend.
West Haven VA Gift Shop – set up on Saturday, December 7th, open on Sunday and Monday December 8th/9th. Volunteers are needed for all sites – we need setup help, shoppers to assist the veterans and wrappers (as all gifts get wrapped for the veterans). If anyone is interested in volunteering contact me via email at the below email address. Any amount of time you can give would be greatly appreciated.
*****The list of gifts needed will be sent via email this week.*****
Pledges are also needed for bingos at Levitow Healthcare Center/ Veterans Residence and West Haven.
Karen L Thompson, VA&R Chairman [email protected]
Members,
Welcome to a new year of service to our veterans and their families. Stand Down will be held September 20, 2024 in six (6) locations around the state (Danbury, Bridgeport, Bristol, Norwich, Stamford and Rocky Hill). If you are interested in volunteering or donating items, please contact me as soon as possible. Thank you for showing up and assisting in making the day a success!
We will be holding the Christmas Gift Shops in November. This year we are able to hold the Gift Shop in person at the WHVA!!! Volunteers and gifts will be needed for all 3 Gift Shops. I will have more information at PIC. We are continuing all our other VA&R programs. Attached to this bulletin you will find donation forms, poppy order form and bingo pledge forms (the costs of the bingos at Rocky Hill have increased as we are serving more veterans at the bingos. Any amount your unit is able to donate is very much appreciated). The bingo attendees also enjoy seeing and visiting with our members at the bingos, so if at all possible please attend them.
I am looking forward to another magnificent year providing programming for veterans and their families, as we continue to work on our mission of 'Service not Self'.
Karen L Thompson, VA&R Chairman [email protected]
Message from PDP Karen L Thompson
On behalf of my family, my daughter Pamela and myself, I’d like to thank everyone for your cards, calls and messages of condolence on the loss of my brother. They helped make a difficult time somewhat easier.
Now is the time to start preparing for Stand Down 2025 – to be held on September 19th in 6 places around Connecticut. Hats/scarves/gloves (neutral colors), white socks – (crew/over-the-calf/diabetic). If you are able to bag these items in gallon sized ziplock bags that would be wonderful! When bagging place hat/scarf/gloves in same bag, socks - place 4 pairs in each bag, label the women’s socks please. If you aren’t able to bag them – we’ll take care of that at the office. Continue to do all you do for our veterans. Thank you.
Karen L Thompson, VA&R Chairman [email protected]
Welcome to Spring -finally!
The Blind unit at WHVA is receiving many new residents along with their service dogs. They are in need of dog beds for large dogs and noisy dog toys! If any unit can help with these items, let me know. The annual Baby Shower is currently scheduled for July but is awaiting approval. As soon as we receive the definite date, I’ll let you know. West Haven VA and Newington VA are always in need of toiletries, tee shirts, underwear, sweat pants, socks. You can drop items off at the office and I will make sure they get to the VA or you can take them to either facility. If you are unable to shop for the items, you can send a monetary donation and I will be more than happy to go shopping! Don’t forget the food pantry at Newington!
Now is the time to start preparing for Stand Down 2025 – to be held on September 19 th in 6 places around Connecticut. Hats/scarves/gloves (neutral colors), white socks – (crew/over-the-calf/diabetic). If you are able to bag these items in gallon sized ziplock bags that would be wonderful! When bagging place hat/scarf/gloves in same bag, socks - place 4 pairs in each bag.
If you aren’t able to bag them – we’ll take care of that at the office.
Continue to do all you do for our veterans. Thank you.
Reminders - the Food Pantry at Newington VA is always in need of items. West Haven VA and Newington VA are always in need of toiletries, tee shirts, underwear, sweat pants, socks.
You can drop items off at the office and I will make sure they get to the VA or you can take them to either facility. If you are unable to shop for the items, you can send a monetary donation and I will be more than happy to go shopping!
Thank you for all you do for our veterans.
Message from our VAVS Representative at Newington VA – Debra Knickerbocker
Newington VA has given us every Thursday of the month to hold a coffee hour for the veterans in the lobby. For the past year or so we have been doing a coffee hour every month with help from Ruth and Wayne Morgan for a second one sometimes. I think it would be great if we could get six more people (TWO A WEEK) to volunteer on Thursdays between 830 and noon and serve coffee to our veterans. They make the coffee for us so we do not have to do anything except maybe bring snacks paid for by our department VA&R budget. Many of you wanted to volunteer and couldn’t because of Covid and the hospital was not letting us in, but that has changed now, they really need us. Newington is in the middle of the state so it shouldn’t be far for pretty much anyone, if you can give me three hours, please contact me. I would really like to give the veterans more than just one week in the month.
Reminders - the Food Pantry at Newington VA is always in need of items. West Haven VA is always in need of toiletries, tee shirts, underwear, sweat pants. You can drop items off at the office and I will make sure they get to the VA or you can take them to either facility. Thank you for all you do for our veterans.
The National Salute to Veteran Patients is February 10-16, 2025. This also is the week of Valentine’s Day. The patients enjoy receiving valentine’s cards. If you would like to send cards to veterans in Newington or West Haven see the following addresses. If you would like to send them to Rocky Hill – address them to our office and we’ll get them to the veterans.
VA CTHCS
ATTN: Voluntary Service/CDCE
555 Willard Ave
Newington, CT 06111
VA CTHCS
ATTN: Voluntary Service/CDCE
950 Campbell Ave
West Haven, CT 06516
Reminders - the Food Pantry at Newington VA is always in need of items. West Haven VA is always in need of toiletries, tee shirts, underwear, sweat pants. You can drop items off at the office and I will make sure they get to the VA or you can take them to either facility. Thank you for all you do for our veterans.
Karen L Thompson, VA&R Chairman [email protected]
Happy New Year!
Heartfelt thanks to all who participated in the Christmas Gift Shops. Whether it was buying and donating gifts, helping to move the gift shop items to and from the office, setting up the shops or volunteering to shop and wrap – all your time and effort helped to make all 3 shops successful. It was wonderful to see so many American Legion and SAL members join us in spreading joy this holiday season.
As a new year begins remember that the Food Pantry at Newington VA is always in need of items. Also, West Haven VA is always in need of toiletries, tee shirts, underwear, sweat pants. You can drop items off at the office and I will make sure they get to the VA or you can take them to either VA.
Thank you for all you do for our veterans.
Karen L Thompson, VA&R Chairman
[email protected]
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
The Christmas Gift Shops are right around the corner!!
The Gift Shops at Rocky Hill are happening this weekend– any and all volunteers are welcome– come one, come all!! West Haven VA Gift Shop 12/7-12/9.
If you would be able to give some time to assist with setting up the Gift Shops, helping veterans shop, wrapping gifts– we would appreciate it very much. Call me at 203-233-0956 or email me at [email protected] to let me know when you would like to volunteer.
Thank you to all those who have already helped whether it be by donating money (which was used to purchase items) or by shopping for gifts– everyone has been extremely generous and I know the veterans will have a great shopping experience choosing gifts for their families!
Karen L Thompson, VA&R Chairman
[email protected]
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!!!
The Christmas Gift Shops are right around the corner!! If you would be able to give some time to assist with setting up the Gift Shops, helping veterans shop, wrapping gifts – we would appreciate it very much. Call me at the office 203-233-0956 or email me at [email protected] to let me know when you would like to volunteer.
We will be setting up both Gift Shops at Rocky Hill (Levitow Health Care Center and in the Auditorium [for the Veterans’ Residence and Newington VA]) on Friday November 29th. We will start at 9:30 and work until everything is set to go! Many hands help complete the job quicker. Levitow Gift Shop will be open on Saturday, November 30th with ribbon cutting at 10:00am and continue until 4:00pm. Sunday, December 1st from 9:00am – 1:00pm. After closing we will be packing everything up and taking it back to the office.
The auditorium will be open on Sunday, December 1st with ribbon cutting at 9:00am and continue until 5:00pm. Monday, December 2nd from 9:00am – 5:00pm.After closing we will be packing everything up and taking it back to the office.
WHVA – set up Saturday, December 7th starting at 9:00am and continuing until finished. Ribbon cutting Sunday, December 8th at 9:00am and continue until 5:00pm. Monday, December 9th – 9:00am- 5:00pm. After closing we will pack up and load the truck to return everything to the office. Please consider volunteering for this endeavor.
Karen L Thompson, VA&R Chairman [email protected]
Members,
Stand Down was held September 20, 2024, in six (6) locations around the state. Thank you to everyone who knitted/crocheted hats/scarves/small Afghans, donated toiletries and other items, bagged socks and donated your time to make it a success. If you are working knitting/crocheting for next year we are in need of neutral color hats/scarves – black, brown, navy, gray and dark green.
We will be holding the Christmas Gift Shops in November. This year we are able to hold the Gift Shop in person at the WHVA!!! Volunteers and gifts will be needed for all 3 Gift Shops. The gift shops at Rocky Hill are as follows – November 29th – set up Levitow and Auditorium, November 30th Levitow gift shop open. December 1st, Levitow and Auditorium open and December 2nd, Auditorium open. The Auditorium is open to veterans living in the Veterans Residence. We also ask any veterans who use the Newington facilities if they would like to attend.
West Haven VA Gift Shop – set up on Saturday, December 7th, open on Sunday and Monday December 8th/9th. Volunteers are needed for all sites – we need setup help, shoppers to assist the veterans and wrappers (as all gifts get wrapped for the veterans). If anyone is interested in volunteering contact me via email at the below email address. Any amount of time you can give would be greatly appreciated.
*****The list of gifts needed will be sent via email this week.*****
Pledges are also needed for bingos at Levitow Healthcare Center/ Veterans Residence and West Haven.
Karen L Thompson, VA&R Chairman [email protected]
Members,
Welcome to a new year of service to our veterans and their families. Stand Down will be held September 20, 2024 in six (6) locations around the state (Danbury, Bridgeport, Bristol, Norwich, Stamford and Rocky Hill). If you are interested in volunteering or donating items, please contact me as soon as possible. Thank you for showing up and assisting in making the day a success!
We will be holding the Christmas Gift Shops in November. This year we are able to hold the Gift Shop in person at the WHVA!!! Volunteers and gifts will be needed for all 3 Gift Shops. I will have more information at PIC. We are continuing all our other VA&R programs. Attached to this bulletin you will find donation forms, poppy order form and bingo pledge forms (the costs of the bingos at Rocky Hill have increased as we are serving more veterans at the bingos. Any amount your unit is able to donate is very much appreciated). The bingo attendees also enjoy seeing and visiting with our members at the bingos, so if at all possible please attend them.
I am looking forward to another magnificent year providing programming for veterans and their families, as we continue to work on our mission of 'Service not Self'.
Karen L Thompson, VA&R Chairman [email protected]
Message from PDP Karen L Thompson
On behalf of my family, my daughter Pamela and myself, I’d like to thank everyone for your cards, calls and messages of condolence on the loss of my brother. They helped make a difficult time somewhat easier.
