Most of the members from our Post use the Durham VA or one of its Community Based Outreach Clinics (CBOCs). However, we have members who live closer to the VA Medical Center at Fayetteville, and use that facility for their needs. In addition, we have members who live out of state, so they use the VA closest to where they live. Also, some of the Medical Centers are also moving patient care to nursing homes in the communities. See where all of the NC facilities are located.

Caring for our hospitalized veterans is an important aspect of our work at the VFW. And is it a rewarding thing to do -- to bring a smile to a veteran, who may not have had a visitor for a while. When we go, we sometimes play BINGO with the patients, and sometimes we visit them in their rooms. But always, we bring a smile and a kind word. You have never seen a brighter smile than the ones that you will receive from some of these individuals. Our Post joins with the Garner American Legion Post 232 to make montly visits to veterans, either at the Durham VA's Community Living Center (nursing home unit) or Garner nursing homes. And check our calendar page to find out where and when the next visit will be. To learn what is involved with these visits, click here.

The Veterans Voices Writing Project (VVWP) was founded in 1946, and has long been connected with the VFW Auxiliary. It is a therapeutic writing pro-gram that helps veterans express themselves and communicate in a creative way. Members can become involved with a local VVWP representative and assist veterans in writing, recording or typing. Training and resources are provided. Three times per year, VVWP publishes Veterans’ Voices, a magazine that prints a selection of submissions. To learn more about the program and how to become involved, visit veteransvoices.org/, call 816-701-6844 or email volunteer@veteransvoices.org.

In addition to scheduled visits, all of these facilities are in need of regular volunteers. The VA needs people every day to help at one of their facilities. They need people in areas such as: Escorts, Reception, coffee truck, Pharmacy, Recreation Therapy, office help, and someone to write a letter or just read to the patients. There are people who run pet therapy sessions, and art therapy as well. So our volunteers do a wide variety of things as you can see - and they do it in a variety of places. So if you have a few hours, even once a week, or once a month, contact your local hospital and ask how you can help.

A great video about volunteering: Volunteering at VA Hospitals

NEW NEWS: The VA has announced that it recently accepted an offer to lease 244,860 square feet of space for a new outpatient multi-specialty clinic in Garner. Projected to open in 2024, the site for the new construction is approximately 17 acres located on the west side of NC 50 between Rand Road and Arbor Greene Drive. It will offer primary care and mental-health services to nearly 25,000 veterans annually from Wake County and surrounding areas.