VA Summer of Service: USAID volunteers prepare dinner for Veterans and their families

Few things are better than a home-cooked meal, especially after spending the day in a hospital.

For the Veterans and families receiving care at the Washington, D.C., VA Medical Center, the chance to sit down and enjoy dinner at the local Fisher House became a reality thanks to the efforts of volunteers from the U.S. Agency of International Development. The five USAID employees quickly whipped up burgers, baked chicken and a variety of salads for more than 25 Fisher House guests, and later sat down with the families to listen to why their loved ones were being cared for by VA.

“Service is a great way to connect with people,” USAID employee and VA Summer of Service volunteer Ellie Vanhoutte said. “I think VA Summer of Service gives you an opportunity to really put yourself in the shoes of someone who served abroad … you can make a difference in their lives and maybe they can make a difference in your life too.”

This summer, VA is renewing our commitment to America’s Veterans, and we’re asking for our partners’ help in honoring that commitment.

What will you do? Pledge the gift of time to serve Veterans.

You can:

• Visit Veterans at a local VA hospital
• Drive Veterans to their appointments
• Help a homeless Veteran find assistance
• Honor Veterans by helping beautify a VA cemetery
• Inspire Veterans by cheering them on at a VA Adaptive Sports event
• Serve Veterans by sharing a meal or snack
• Laugh with Veterans and share experiences

The possibilities are endless and volunteers across the country are making a difference. To sign up to volunteer, visit www.va.gov/vasummerofservice

VA takes its commitment to care for the nation’s Veterans and their families very seriously, and this summer, we invite all of you to join in that commitment. Community by community, state by state, our nation can work together to serve Veterans during the VA Summer of Service.

• Look for VA at community events and engage our employees and partners.
• Reach out to your local medical facility or National Cemetery to find out what you can do to help.
• Check out #VASummerOfService on Vantage Point, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, and join VA in caring for America’s Veterans.