THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, February 3, 1995 TAG: 9502010127
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 07 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Medium: 58 lines
The week of Feb. 12-18 has been designated a ``National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans.'' It seems appropriate, therefore, to write this letter to the citizens of Chesapeake.
The members of the 13 chapters of Disabled American Veterans, owners of the four DAV Thrift Stores located throughout Hampton Roads, wish to thank citizens who have been so generous in their support of our stores for more than two decades. Through their generous donations of quality usable discards, our stores have generated more than $5 million paid to our chapters for their good works for disabled veterans and their dependents, along with other veterans and citizens in need in our communities.
From time to time we are asked, ``Where does the money go?'' To begin with, none of the money leaves town. No percentage of our sales is sent to the state or national headquarters. Each local chapter maintains its own budget because it knows best how to serve the disabled veterans and others within its community.
The major beneficiaries of our good works are the patients of the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Hampton through VA Volunteer Services. Thousands of dollars are spent annually at the hospital to make life a little more tolerable - providing personal comfort items and clothing; organizing outings to sports events, fishing trips, picnics and dinners at chapter homes and military clubs; holding weekly bingo games and holiday parties throughout the year; sponsoring participants in the National Wheelchair Olympic Games; and purchasing televisions and video cassette reorders with records and tapes for wards.
We also provide facilities and financial assistance to the communities at large. Several chapters offer free meals daily to the homeless and needy. Another offers its chapter home to the city as a regional senior citizens center - most of these folks are veterans of World War II or spouses of veterans.
Social service departments of all area cities and counties have our phone number and they call upon us frequently to provide clothing and other household goods or pay a utility bill or buy groceries or a tank of heating oil for the needy or the unfortunate.
All chapters maintain service offices, where we assist veterans and their widows in securing the benefits that they have earned and deserve.
Citizens' continued support is greatly appreciated by the Disabled American Veterans, particularly in the future, when there appears to be forthcoming the need for local charitable support of our veterans.
All of the veterans of Hampton Roads who enjoy the benefits of this community support offer their thanks.
J. Lloyd Dingus
President, DAV Thrift Stores
of Hampton Roads
Maple Drive by CNB