VAVS-LogoA reassuring pat on the shoulder, a smile that comes from the heart — thank goodness some things never change about the VA Voluntary Service (VAVS). Volunteers continue to support Veterans through many avenues of service, through donations, and by helping to enhance VA health care delivery at health care settings across the country.

You, too, can help as a volunteer, and spring into action to give back to the men and women who served in harm’s way to protect and defend us. Just imagine the possibilities of continuing the tradition of “serving those who have served” – it’s a win-win that improves the quality of life of both Veteran patients and the volunteers.

Have you visited your local VA health care facility yet? There are many VA health care settings to volunteer. To find your nearest facility, visit: http://www.va.gov/directory/guide/home.asp.

VA operates more than 1,700 points of care, including 150 medical centers, 820 community-based outpatient clinics, 300 Vet Centers, 135 community living centers, 104 domiciliary rehabilitation treatment programs, and 70 mobile Vet Centers.

rotate_Volunteer_500x275Are you considering setting up visits to hospitalized Veterans? Are you interested in helping with group activities? A variety of opportunities exist at VA facilities, which you may find fun and rewarding.

Perhaps you want to provide support to VAVS Welcome Home events for returning military service members and their families, who will need important guidance about how to access health care and other benefits through VA.

What about applying your time and efforts to programs and initiatives designed to help homeless Veterans live as self-sufficiently and independently as possible? VA provides hands-on assistance directly to homeless persons. VA’s major homeless-specific programs for Veterans and their dependents constitute the largest integrated network of treatment and assistance services in the country.

Another option is to become a VA volunteer to help the National Cemetery Administration with its activities. Your assistance at these final resting places, the national cemeteries, is a way to honor our Veterans and their families.

rotate_Drivers_500x275Maybe you’re thinking about assisting with the Veterans Transportation Network? Since 1987, VA has partnered with veterans service organizations to provide transportation for Veterans. This network was established for Veterans seeking services from a VA facility. VTN guidelines permit volunteers to provide transportation to Veterans using a volunteer’s privately-owned or a government-owned vehicle, including donated vehicles, county vehicles, DAV department (state) or chapter (local) vehicles, public transportation and contracted transportation.

When you decide to serve our Veterans with your time and talents, contact your local medical center or community based outpatient clinic for more information, or visit the VA Voluntary Service website at http://www.volunteer.va.gov/. There you can complete the Volunteer Now! form, an introductory application in which you can specify your preferences and availability in the comments field.

You are also welcome to make a donation. VA medical centers and hospitals have begun accepting donations online via a major credit card or direct debit. To donate online, visit www.volunteer.va.gov/apps/VolunteerNow, select a state and medical center, and then click “Donate Online.” All of your donation will go toward supporting Veterans, and you can choose which fund your money will support.

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The comments section is for opinions and feedback on this particular article; this is not a customer support channel. If you are looking for assistance, please visit Ask VA or call 1-800-698-2411. Please, never put personally identifiable information (SSAN, address, phone number, etc.) or protected health information into the form — it will be deleted for your protection.

2 Comments

  1. Stephanie G. June 12, 2014 at 21:40

    I agree that the volunteers help make the experience of visiting the VA complex easier to handle. But remember the majority of those volunteers are military veterans and they are quite aware of how we (the veterans) are feeling and have been treated. So they have empathy and sympathy for our situation and want to do all they can to make our visits as pleasant as possible. And the VA in Columbus, Ohio (Chalmers P. Wylie VA Ambulatory Care Center) has some of the BEST volunteers I have ever seen, bar none!!! I thank God for each and every one of them and I don’t know all of them, personally!! But the ones I do know are FANTASTIC!! They go out of their way to help the veterans and anyone in the center. Come down and see for yourself!! You will love our center!!

  2. Sanjivv June 10, 2014 at 07:07

    hi this article is good

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