VA Photos of the Week: December 27, 2019

Ashley Kortz, social worker at Dallas VA Medical Center, gathers toys for a VA North Texan Veteran who is a single father of three. The toys were donated to Voluntary Service at VA North Texas to give to children of Veterans during the holiday season. More than 260 families received toys from the donations. Photo by Jennifer Roy, public affairs specialist at the VA North Texas Health Care System.

West Texas Health Care System volunteer Clara Lewis is presented the Disabled American Veterans Volunteer of the Year award by former DAV National Commander Dennis Nixon at a ceremony held at the George H. O’Brien, Jr. VA Medical Center. Lewis, known as Ms. Clara by her many admirers, has been volunteering at VA West Texas for more than 44 years and has accumulated more than 47,000 volunteer hours. VA West Texas recently named the main waiting area of the medical center in honor of her – dubbing the space where Lewis now volunteers as the main greeter seven hours a day, five days a week, the Clara Lewis Outpatient Waiting Room. Photo by Michael Cole, chief of communications, West Texas VA Health Care System.

Inpatient Veterans at the Jack C. Montgomery VA Medical Center received a holiday surprise when VA Voluntary Service held its annual Inpatient Christmas Party. During the event, VA staff and members of the Wagoner Elks Lodge delivered gift bags full of goodies to Veterans throughout the hospital while Honor, the facility dog, spent time with them along the way. Veterans were all smiles as they were greeted and handed their gifts. Navy Veteran Robert Wilson said he was appreciative of the time and thoughtfulness of those involved and he enjoyed spending time with Honor. Photo by Montgomery VA staff.

No matter how harsh the coming winter may be, we can expect spring blooms around the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center’s (FHCC) main hospital entrance to be especially lovely next year, thanks to the Home Depot Foundation. Along with donating an array of plants, many local Home Depot employees donated time as gardeners alongside Lovell staff at the FHCC. We’re so appreciative of their generosity and dedication to beautifying Lovell FHCC for the Veterans, service members, and the families we serve. Photo by FHCC staff.

In memory of her son, Marine Corps LCpl Ross Carver, who was killed in action in Afghanistan in 2010, Gold Star mother Angie Carver (top, right) hands out Christmas gifts to injured and ill Veterans seeking medical help at VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System. Carver started with just a handful of gifts out of her home six years ago and then the project grew. Angie’s Vets (Ross’ Presents for Veterans) is now incorporated as a non-profit organization. Carver and her team handed out hundreds of presents to Veterans passing through the concourse. “Many of the Vets tell us that this is the only Christmas present they’ll receive and they appreciate it so much,” she said. Photo by ECHCS staff.

Veterans from the Pittsburgh Community Living Center enjoyed a community outing with VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System recreation therapy staff to see the “Winter Flower Show and Light Garden” at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. Veterans explored the festival of trees and winter wonderland covering over 10 acres of garden and lights. Special thank you to the Veterans of Foreign Wars, District 27 for sponsoring the event. Photo by Pittsburgh VA staff.