The veterans, and their families, at the VA Hospital are in need of our assistance. Review the guidelines below and please help as you are able. There is a collection box in Ferguson Hall at the Ann Arbor Masonic Temple. Let's all get into the habit of bringing approved items to the collecion box at least once per month. The veterans, their families and Ann Arbor-Fraternity Lodge No. 262 thank you.

VA ANN ARBOR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM

Voluntary Service (24V) – NEEDS LIST

2215 Fuller Road

Ann Arbor , MI 48105

(734) 761-7995

May 2, 2007

General Post Fund (GPF) 236 has been set up for monetary donations to be used for the purchase of comfort items for patients. Voluntary Service is always aware of the immediate needs of our veteran patients and many times, businesses will offer lower prices to a non-profit organization.

PERSONAL COMFORT ITEMS NEEDED FOR PATIENTS

All donated items must be alcohol free.

After Shave Lotion	Deodorant	Razors (disposable)
Baby Powder	Hair Brushes	Shampoo
Booties (non-skid, large size)	Lap Robes (4' x 4')	Shaving Cream
Boxers Men's (all sizes)	Lotion	Shower Shoes
Briefs Men's (all sizes)	Magazines - within 60 days of issue	Soap (liquid only)
Chap Stick	Mirrors--hand held size	Socks (White Men's)
Combs	Mouth Wash	Socks (gripper)
Crossword Puzzle Books	Nail Clippers	Toothbrushes
Dental Floss	Phone Cards	Toothpaste
Denture Adhesive	Pill Dispensers (7-day)	Trach Bibs (tightly crocheted)
Denture Cleaner	Playing Cards	T-Shirts (Men's all sizes)
Denture Cream	Postage Stamps (New)	Women's Toiletries
	Pumice Stones

Patient Clothing Room : Items Accepted:

* men's blue jeans *casual Docker type pants *winter coats, boots,

*Polo type shirts *colored t-shirts scarves, gloves

*men's shoes *long-sleeved men's shirts sweat shirts

Not Accepted : used undergarments (including socks)

dress shirts, suits, or unclaimed items from the cleaners

There is a limited need for women's clothing. Please call before bringing any clothing items for donation. No children's clothing accepted!

ITEMS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTED

Catheter Bags (oversupply on hand)	Magazines (more than 60 days from issue )
Piece Puzzles	National Geographic magazines and Reader's Digest Condensed Books
Used eyeglasses (Lion's Club accepts) Bar Soap – only liquid soap accepted	Used crutches, walkers, portable toilets, prosthetic limbs, medical supplies (Depends, Diabetic syringes), etc.
Cloth Ditty Bags (not used by inpatients)	Used postage stamps

Patient Needs “At A Glance”

Item and Description	Cost	Unit/Ward	GPF Fund

Bibles (Large Print, King James & Vietnam Veteran, and RSV Catholic Edition)	$20 - $30	Chaplain Service	4207
Bus Tokens (for indigent veterans)	$10- ?	Social Work/ HIOT/MHICMP	4009/4003
Cancer Survivor Picnic (supports annual celebration of life for cancer survivors)	$10 - ?	Cancer Survivor Fund	4031
Canteen Books for Indigent Veterans	$5 - ?	Social Work P	4009
Chapel Fund (meet spiritual needs of veterans)	$10 - ?	Chapel Fund	4207
Coffee Program (coffee – regular and decaff, sugar, creamer, tea bags, or monetary donations)	$10 - ?	inpatient wards and outpatient clinics	4223
Cold Weather items, Blankets, Scarves, Gloves	$10 - ?	MHICMP/ Homeless Veterans	4019/4050
Comfort Item Fund (purchase personal comfort items)	$10 and up	Inpatients, HIOT and Homeless Veterans	4236
Communication System (transmit religious programs to all patient bedsides)	$30,000	Chaplain Service	4003
Cultural Change for ECC (Create more home-like setting)	$100 - ?	ECC	4003
Electric Toothbrushes and replacement heads for patients with arthritis or decreased dexterity	$60 - ?	Dental	4003
Emergency Lodging and travel funds	$10 and up	Lodging & Travel	4029
Emergency Service and Canteen books	$10 and up	Social Service	4009
Entertainment System (combination TV/VCR/DVD with closed captioning)	$30,000	Outpatient Clinics	4003
Healthcare for Homeless Veterans	$10 - ?	Homeless Vets	4050
Heart Pillows – used as splints for open heart surgery patients when coughing (may also be handmade)	$15 - ?	TICU	4003
Holiday Fund (special items for celebrating holidays for inpatients)	$10 - ?	Holiday Fund	4139
Internet access (monthly fee for access for inpatients at bedside, Recreation Therapy, Patient Library, and extended care center common area)	$150	Internet access for inpatients	4003
Laundry Detergent (for HIOT veterans lodged outside medical center)	$10 - ?	HIOT	4003
Magazine Subscriptions (PEOPLE, Sports Illustrated, etc.) “No National Geographic”	$10 - $50	Outpatient/Inpatient Wards	4003
Mental Health Intensive Case Management Program (special needs of outpatient long-term, intensive case management veterans with a serious and persistent mental illness) -- phone cards, bus tokens, tickets to sporting events, movie tickets, etc.)	$10 - ?	MHICMP	4019

Newspaper subscriptions – current events & reading pleasure	$20 and up	Inpatient Wards Patient Library	4003
Nursing Home Care Unit (special needs for ECC patients)	$20 - ?	ECC Patients	4241
Palliative Care (special needs for terminally ill patients) – CD/cassette players, coffee pots, snacks	$25 - ?	Palliative Care	4221
Phone Cards (telephone calling cards for inpatients, HIOT, Homeless Veterans, and MHICMP)	$5 - ?	Inpatient Wards Homeless/HIOT	4236
Psychiatry Service Fund (funds used for special Psychiatry patient needs)	$10 - ?	Psychiatry Patients	4007
Radiation Oncology (special needs for inpatient and outpatient veterans receiving radiation treatment)	$10 - ?	Radiation Patients	4028
Radios (combination CD players/alarm clocks)	$15 - ?	Inpatient Wards	4003
Recreational Funds (Bingo, outings for inpatients	$50	ECC	4217
Satellite TV Program in ECC (monthly subscription cost)	$60 /month	ECC	4035
Seamless Transition (for needs of returning Iraqi/Afghanistan veterans and family members)	$10 - ?	Seamless Transition	4235
Serenity Mugs (coffee mug with serenity prayer)	$3 - ?	HIOT	4003
Snack Kits for Homeless Veterans	$3 - ?	Homeless Veterans	4050
Tables, Dining, Round	$1000 - ?	8 West	4003
Tabletop Mirrors – for patient self-care training	$30 - ?	O T	4003
Television Fund (purchase TVs for patient bedsides and patient lounge areas)	$300 - ?	Inpatient Wards/Lounges	4218
Wheelchairs – oversize needed for larger patients	$250 each	Patient Transport	4003
Women Veterans (funds for specific individual needs)	$10 - ?	Women Veterans	4022
VA Special Events – sponsors needed
Creative Arts Festival (allows veterans to attend national creative arts festival)	$10 - ?	Creative Arts Festival	4215
Golden Age Games (assists veterans 55+ years in attending national games)	$10 - ?	Golden Age Games	4055
Wheelchair Games (allows disabled veterans to attend national games)	$10 - ?	Wheelchair Games	4226
Winter Sports Clinic for Disabled Veterans (allows disabled veterans to attend national games)	$10 - ?	Winter Sports Clinic	4031

See page 4 for listing of new projects/initiatives

Sponsors needed for New Projects/Initiatives

Extended Care Center (ECC) Cultural Change: Plans are underway in the ECC to create a more homelike setting. This type of cultural change is happening nation-wide throughout VAMCs.

The first part of cultural change at our facility was done in Palliative Care. Four patient rooms have been re-done with new flooring, wall paper, window treatments, and residential furniture.

Current plans for our ECC include a make over of the dining area and common areas into a lodge type setting. This involves new flooring, lighting, and furniture.

Items needed include: entertainment and computer center, rocking chair, sofa, game table and chairs, end tables, desk chair, table lamp, window treatments, silk plants, artwork, fireplace, copper and slate wall fountain, chandelier, white-tail sconce reproduction, etc.

Estimated cost of project: $170,000; $125,000 is being received through VA funding. (GPF 003 – Specific Donations)

Internet access for inpatients : Recreation Therapy, Patient Library, and extended care center common area. Installation cost of $200; monthly subscription cost of $100. (GPF 003 – Specific Donations)

Radiation Oncology waiting areas : purchase ceiling panels for the linear accelerator room where patients receive treatment and new furnishings (chairs, end tables, etc.) for the two waiting rooms. This would create a more relaxing environment for patients undergoing treatment. Project cost estimated at $10,000. All donations accepted. (GPF 003 – Specific Donations)

GENERAL DONATIONS

If you are interested in making a monetary contribution to the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System (VAAAHS) for the benefit of veteran patients, listed below are the General Post Fund (GPF) Accounts that donations are deposited into for that particular need. Checks may be made out to VAAAHS. If you would like your donation to go toward a specific GPF, please write the GPF number(s) on your check.

GPF # TITLE

4002 General Purpose

4003 Specific Donations

4004 VAVS Committee

4007 Psychiatry Service Fund

4008 Oncology Fund

4009 Social Work Service – Ann Arbor

4010 Social Work ( Toledo VAOPC)

4019 Mental Health Intensive Case Management Program

4022 Women Veterans

4028 Radiation Oncology

4029 Lodging and Travel

4030 Winter Sports Clinic for Disabled Veterans

4031 Cancer Survivor Fund

4035 Extended Care Center Satellite Television Network

4050 Health Care for Homeless Veterans

4055 Ann Arbor Golden Age Team

4139 Holiday Fund

4200 Volunteer Recognition

4206 Toledo VA Outpatient Clinic

4207 Chapel Fund

4215 National Creative Arts Festival

4217 Recreation and Entertainment

4218 Televisions

4221 Palliative Care Unit

4223 Coffee Fund

4226 Ann Arbor VA Wheelchair Team

4235 Seamless Transition Fund

4236 Comfort Items

4241 Nursing Home Care Unit

Thank you for your generosity and thoughtfulness for our veterans. Your contributions are greatly appreciated.

100% of your donation is used for veterans' needs

VA HOSPITALS: HOW YOU CAN HELP!

• Patient Visitation (evenings, weekends, holidays, etc.) Family visitation is encouraged.

Assist with evening and weekend recreation programs (Bingo)

Community Service Volunteer Day for organizations ( schedule attached)
Regularly scheduled volunteer duties (brochures available)
Birthday cards, special holiday cards for inpatients

Sponsor item from Needs List
Sponsor Wheelchair Team/Golden Age Team/Winter Sports Clinic/Creative Arts Festival

• Donation of used paperback books and magazines (within 60 days of issue)

• Tray Favors (geared around holidays, i.e. Valentine's Day,

St. Patrick's Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving)

· Provide clothing donations for our Clothing Room ( see page 1 for specific needs)

· Escorts to transport inpatients to Protestant and Catholic Sunday services

· See Calendar of Events on next page ?

Currently the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System has 120 inpatients and provides service to over 40,000 outpatients.

Our volunteer program utilizes approximately 1,000 volunteers at the VA Ann Arbor and Community Based Outpatient Clinics in Toledo , Flint , and Jackson .

For additional information contact:

Beverly Leneski, Chief, Voluntary and Chaplain Services

VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System

2215 Fuller Road

Ann Arbor , MI 48105

Telephone: (734) 761-7995

E-mail Address: Beverly.Leneski@med.va.gov

VA ANN ARBOR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM - ANN ARBOR , MI

2007 VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES CALENDAR

January

15 Martin Luther King Day – A National day of remembrance and service.

Service projects can be customized for your group.

February

11 -17 National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans (Sunday - Saturday). Visitors welcomed during this week-long program.

19 Presidents Day –Patient Visitation - Visitors welcomed.

May VA Beautification Day (date to be announced). Held on Saturday,

this one-day event involves working outside on lawns, gardens and

landscaping. Groups invited!

Memorial Program for recently passed Veterans (date to be

announced, held on Saturday). Help needed for set up, serving

refreshments, ushering, and clean up.

28 Memorial Day — Patient Visitation – Visitors welcomed!

June

• Flag Day — Patient Visitation – Visitors welcomed!

July

• 4 th of July — Patient Visitation — Visitors welcomed!

August

4 Patient Picnic - 11:00 a.m. (Saturday). Help needed for set up, staffing event, and clean up. Help also needed for patient transport.

September

14 POW/MIA Recognition Ceremony - 10:00 a.m. (Friday). Help needed for set up, staffing event, and clean up.

Cancer Survivor Picnic (date to be announced, held on Saturday)

October

27 “Make a Difference Day”

VA Beautification Day (date to be announced). Held on Saturday, this one-day event involves working outside on lawns, gardens and landscaping. Groups invited!