Photo: Jayne Fust (left) and Le Carlisle, with the American Legion Auxiliary, make labels for gifts for patients at the VA Medical Center, in Syracuse, NY.
VOLUNTEERS roamed the halls of the VA Medical Center in Syracuse on Monday, delivering gifts and holiday cheer during the annual Veterans Holiday Gift Shop.
Sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary, the event is designed to give hospitalized veterans the chance to pick out a few Christmas presents for their families and for themselves, said Jayne Fust, the chairperson of the event.
The program is more than 40 years old and has become a holiday tradition. In a typical year, the auxiliary spends about $8,000 on holiday gifts for local veterans and their famlies, Fust said. Various gifts included winter clothing, kitchen appliances and toys and games for children and teenagers.
Volunteers also set up a free gift shop in the hospital's auditorium, where the veterans browsed from a selection of holiday presents. The volunteers wrapped and mailed the gifts for free.
The volunteers will deliever more gifts to veterans at the Community Care Center on East Fayette Street in Syracuse.
Bob Hawed, the voluntary service manager at the medical center, said the annual event fills the hospital with some holiday spirit.
From an article in the Syracuse Post Standard, 12/8/2009
Posted by Matthew Nojiri, Contributing writer
Posted by Matthew Nojiri, Contributing writer
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