AMVETS' special guest

AMVETS' special guest

CALLAHAN, FL - Can you donate some laundry detergent (Sun, Tide, etc.); how about some liquid soap such as Dial or Irish Spring for the shower room? These are just a couple of the things Nicky Adams, Assistant Chief, Voluntary Services, Veterans Affairs Medical Center,

Following her presentation, Roger Allen (right), local AMVETS Commander, presented Nicky Adams (left) with a $300 check.

Lake City, said her facility needed during her briefing regarding her facility to Callahan's AMVETS Post 2007 Tuesday evening.

Nicky, a retired Navy veteran who has worked with the VA since 2003, recently transferred to Lake City from the Pensacola Outpatient Clinic. Following her presentation, Roger Allen, local AMVETS Commander, presented Nicky with a $300 check.

While the Center can always use cash donations, some of the other non-cash items needed included powder (Shower to Shower or Baby Powder - but not medicated), lotion (cocoa butter or Vaseline Intensive Care), baby oil, deodorant (spray), razors (double blade), shaving cream, after shave (Old Spice), hair grease (African American men), combs, and mouth wash.

Some of the more non-personal items the Center could use include twin bed spreads (solid colors which go with a military décor); shower curtains (to coordinate with red, white and blue); and photo boards (2' x 3', fabric covered, with crisscrossed ribbons to slip pictures behind). These can be mounted on bedroom walls.

New sweat pants (large/Xlarge/2x) are also needed as are also new underwear, undershirts and socks. Many more items can be used. Please contact Nicky at Voluntary Service, Lake City VAMC, (386) 755-3016, ext 2135, for further

information. This is also the number to call if arranging to do volunteer work.

As part of the VA's program to upgrade facilities, Lake City has instituted a "culturalization change." Lake City nursing home has become a community living center with neighborhoods instead of floors. New appliances in a kitchen available to residents allow veterans or their families to cook or bake as they wish.

This is just one of the changes calculated to make the facility feel more like a home than a hospital. Larger televisions are another addition as are several WII games including fishing and bowling. Some neighborhoods also have "Internet Café's" available.

Some residents are also able to grow their own vegetables. Home Depot has done extensive remodeling allowing wheelchair residents to work in gardens at their level.

Nicky said there were around 1,500 volunteers in North Florida and Southern Georgia who contributed more than 190,000 volunteer hours last year. These ranged from regular assignments in offices to occasional volunteers who help in bingo or other activities.

Callahan's AMVETS post is among those volunteers and plans to give more extensive service, not only at Lake City, but at other VA facilities in the area.

AMVETS' next meeting will be the third Tuesday in October at 7 pm at the Lions Club. See you there.