By Jackie Faiman

Support for the military was a founding pillar of the American Red Cross, and our service to veterans, dating from World War I, is a natural extension of this work. Today, we not only support active servicemen and women and military installations throughout the U.S. and abroad, we help our veterans and their families identify and access services such as healthcare, counseling, food and shelter, and burial benefits.

Southeastern Pennsylvania is home to two Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Centers, in Philadelphia and Coatesville. The Philadelphia facility, the larger of the two, saw over 100,000 outpatient and 6,000 hospital visits in 2020. Veterans of all ages and all eras of service pass through its doors.

Our volunteers provide regular support for an array of programs at the Center. The Compassionate Contact Corps pairs volunteers with veterans for regular Zoom calls. Volunteer Bernadine Salgado serves in the library, where patrons can seek help with a job search, computer training, or simply something to read.

“I’ve had relatives who were in World War II, the Korean War, and Vietnam and came back injured. I know how it affects their lives,” she notes.

Janice Winston, the Veterans Affairs Voluntary Service Representative, described how Covid-19 affected interactions at the VA Center.

“We were limited in what we could do. We put out a call to anyone who would want to email a card to a vet. We received and sent 400 cards. Kids also sent drawings. The response was amazing.”

She emphasized that the VA Center is more than a hospital, that it is truly a resource clearinghouse and a social hub for veterans who may feel isolated and lost in civilian life.

“There are lots of programs that go beyond healthcare. We also support a food pantry. We transport vets to and from the hospital. We provide Target and SEPTA cards.”

Our volunteers have found quiet but powerful ways to serve the veteran community. For example, they place flags on veterans’ graves at Woodland Cemetery, where 184 veterans are buried, prior to Memorial Day; participate in countless veterans resource fairs and stand-down events throughout the year; march and staff a booth at the Philadelphia Veterans Parade and Festival; facilitate resiliency workshops for veterans and their families; and provide casework services. This year, for the first time, our volunteers will participate in Wreaths Across American on Dec. 17 in Newtown and Conshohocken.

Visit our website to learn more about our Service to the Armed Forces work and how you can get involved.