Stand Downs are one part of the Department of Veterans Affairs’ efforts to provide services to homeless veterans.  Stand Downs are typically one to three day events providing services to homeless veterans such as food, shelter, clothing, health screenings, VA and Social Security benefits counseling, and referrals to a variety of other necessary services, such as housing, employment and substance abuse treatment.  Stand Downs are collaborative events, coordinated between local VAs, other government agencies, and community agencies who serve the homeless.

To see if there is a Stand Down near you please click on the link below:

http://www1.va.gov/homeless/page.cfm?pg=6

RELEASE:  September 14, 2008

Saginaw VA Hospital Veterans have fun participating in a BINGO event coordinated by a Michigan CTL, Isabel (Liz) Gugyela. 

Assisting Liz with the function were husband Mike, daughter Cindy Muirhead (also a soldier’s angel), and additional family members-Liz’s brother Fred & wife Veronica, also her sister Olga & husband Tom.  Everyone wanted to help in some way and all stood a post of helping with reading cards or verifying the bingo winners’ numbers.

CTL Liz spent months preparing for the event.  Together with her husband, distributed donation boxes throughout their community that allowed for donations of items useful to patients in the hospital and local vets in need such as:  toiletry items, socks, t-shirts, etc.  Many boxes were found full when they were picked up!

Once at the hospital, several games of bingo were called by Jeff Went-the hospital recreation event coordinator, with game winners receiving prizes in quarter denominations of 50ct. Mike and Liz donated the quarters, or a handmade patriotic pillow-small or medium that were made by Cindy and Liz. And there was usually more then one “bingo” at a time. The pillows actually went over quite well, which was surprising!  When it was nearing the end a grand total of the remaining quarters amounted to $7.00 and the last medium pillow, were combined for the last game of bingo that would be a “cover all”. The person with the first “cover all” won the grand prize.  In total, over a dozen bingo’s were called.  Liz also put together gift bags (amounting to 40 bags) to give to all the vets attending, which included each-a Patriotic Beanie Baby, travel size toiletries and Cindy created handmade thank you cards for each of them, the bags were handed out after the bingo game ended.  The gift bags were a sensation and they really appreciated the cards!  One vet mentioned how he loved his card, stating a handmade card was made from the heart.  Any leftover gift bags were to be dispersed to patients in rooms who weren’t able to participate.  A king size pillowcase banner was made by Liz and Cindy that was worded “U R All Heroes” and painted in beautiful gold and silver glitter paint with patriotic embellishing on it to hang in the recreation center.  Liz also brought in sugar-free cakes so everyone could enjoy a piece of cake!  A special mention acknowledging Mike and Liz had also donated “two” Wii-Fit Games for the hospital and a slightly used VCR along with several videos-the hospital has their own video library for the patients to access. 

Spending time and talking to some of the vets made the group very receptive of all of the volunteers!  the vets asked when they (volunteers) were going to return, several of them stating how much they enjoyed us being there! The volunteers responded they would return before Christmas most definitely if not sooner, and then listened to some of the stories being told by a few of the vets; while their hearts broke, when some of them expressed how they have family that doesn’t care about them or come to visit, or they have no family at all.  Jeff had stated that on a day when there is not a “bingo event” most of the vets did not get out of bed. He stated this is the only thing that motivates some of them to get out of bed. So sad..

A very special gift bag was also put together for Jeff and the other staff members involved in assisting with scheduling and arranging the receipt of the donations from Soldiers Angels this included SA Coins, Business Cards, Lapel Pins and also “two” Wii Sport Game.

For a few people to go into the Hospital as we did and spend a few of hours just talking and mingling with patients, it shows how much of a profound affect it can have.  Liz and her family members had a superb time doing the event.  When it came to a close, it was quite a gratifying experience for all who had volunteered their time helping.  The experience had an impacting resolve on the volunteers in as much as reminding them how fortunate all citizens in this country are-to be free, and how much we really need to help in reminding the vets-especially, that they are “NOT FORGOTTEN”!  My daughter Cindy wrote the above. Great Job..

Now I would like to add that while waiting for the vets to arrive there were also “two” DVD’s played that were entitled “Before You Go”. One for the World War II Vets the other for the Vietnam Vets. Difficult to watch. And as the vets arrived one by one most in wheelchairs and all showing injuries of some kind. Then to think back at what some had stated about family, it broke my heart to think that these “brave wounded warriors” were willing to give their lives for this Country, yet there own relatives deserted them. To anyone that would do this to their own blood relative, I say SHAME ON YOU!!!!

We went out to dinner and the conversation was all about the experience each of us felt and of the vets we spoke to. My sister said one vet had told her he had been out with his family and his grandson who’s name was TY had wanted a Bear but he didn’t have enough money to by it and stated that now he could give his Bear to his grandson and that the Bear also had the name TY on it. Another came up to me and said “the Bear you gave me has the year 2000 on the tag”. He said that was the year I had my open-heart surgery. I had to turn away so he would not see my tears. In closing I would just like to say if you ever get the chance to visit a VA Hospital “PLEASE” do so and take a little time to sit and talk or just listen to them “that’s all they want” and

we owe all of them that much…. Thanks to any who read this and we hope we have enlightened you in some way.  God Bless all our Veterans and God Bless America….

Isabel (Liz) Gugyela

Proud Michigan Soldiers Angel

Past Angel to William & Mark

Angel to David & Adrian

CTL Saginaw VA.

Member of Bat Phone

Member of Emergency Assistance

“Today's Soldiers are Tomorrows Veterans”

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If you need to find a Facility near you or in your state please click the below link:

http://www1.va.gov/directory/guide/home.asp?isFlash=1

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My name is Kim Hightower and I am the Houston area Veterans Hospital representative for Soldier Angels.  This year Soldier Angels is one of the proud sponsors of the Houston Area Stand Down for our homeless veterans and we are looking for donations of T-shirts and hats.

This is a community sponsored event that helps our homeless veterans find jobs, clothing, see doctors, shower and eat a warm meal.

This year I am trying to fill 600 backpacks with a shirt, hat and a blanket.  I am hoping that your organization will help me do this.  Please find it in your heart to help the veterans that gave their time for our country. 

If you can help please contact me, your support is appreciated for those who have served.

The Stand Down is November 5^th and 6^th, donations are needed by October 31^st. 

Kim Hightower

Soldier Angels VACTL

Vactltx03@gmail.com

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