May 30, 2008

HHV presents $200,000 check to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center's "Wounded Warrior Ministry," bringing the total contributed to this worthy cause to $400,000.

Pictured: (L-R) Mike Lynch, HHV's Executive Director; Maj. Helen Santiago, USA.

Help Hospitalized Veterans returned to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center (LRMC) in Landstuhl, Germany for a facilities tour and $200,000 contribution presentation to LRMC's Wounded Warrior Ministry (formerly known as The Chaplain's Closet). Mike Lynch, HHV's Executive Director, and HHV board member U.S. Army retired Colonel Gorham L. Black, III met with several department supervisors as well as clinicians working with the HHV program at the facility. HHV has now contributed over 23,000 therapeutic arts & crafts kits valued in excess of $450,000 to LRMC. Additionally, HHV has contributed $400,000 in cash contributions toward LRMC's most important missions of servicing America's wounded troops through the Ministry.

In a letter to HHV for its most recent contributions, Col. James Griffith, LRMC's Chaplain wrote, "...thank you for supporting America's sons and daughters who are making hard sacrifices for our precious freedom...your donations provide both comfort and encouragement for the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen [and] Marines. What you have given blesses these precious men and women...thank you for your caring and compassionate service to all those who serve their country so well." All of this is made possible by the wonderful generosity of HHV's donors.

Not unusual, during this latest visit HHV was met with overwhelmingly positive feedback to the programs and services it provides.

MAJ. Helen Santiago, Chief of Occupational Therapy, has been witness to the benefits of the HHV program during her 17 years of U.S. Army service to our nation. She stated that upon arrival at a new duty station, if she did not see the arts & crafts program in place she would immediately phone HHV to arrange for regular shipments of the kits. Capt. Gretchen Lambert, USN, began her military career at San Diego's Balboa Naval Medical Center and utilized HHV's arts & crafts back then as she does now for LRMC. She told HHV that the kits are extremely therapeutic.
 
The mission of Landstuhl Regional Medical Center is "To provide world class comprehensive and compassionate care to our Nation's Warriors, their families, retirees and all other directed beneficiaries, while maintaining unit and personal readiness to meet the demands of our Nation."

HHV's mission is to assist facilities like LRMC by providing support, in this case both the arts & crafts kits and funds for the Ministry, enabling it to adequately supply the dozens of highly needed items (shoes, underwear, toiletries, etc.) wounded service men and women seek during their hospitalization.