July 2, 2009

We've all heard the adage medicine from a bottle. How about medicine from a box?

Help Hospitalized Veterans (HHV), the nation's largest supplier of therapeutic arts and craft kits to our VA and military hospital facilities has reached a milestone in support of Dallas area veterans.

Recently, the value of HHV arts and craft kits donated in support of the VA North Texas Health Care System topped $5 million. Raymond Cooper, HHV Craft Care Specialist at the Dallas VA Medical Center said, "The veterans receiving treatment here love working on the craft kits, which not only provide the veteran with something to do, they also enhance the veteran's overall self esteem upon completion."

Cooper has been a Craft Care Specialist for Help Hospitalized Veterans for 12 years. He said the patients he serves appreciate the donors who make the craft kit program possible. "I see veterans often writing words of thanks on the HHV pre-paid donor reply postcards which are mailed directly to the donors. The veterans feel such a great sense of pride that someone cared about them and what they did for this country... enough to want to donate to this cause."

"The arts & crafts support rehabilitation by encouraging a healthy activity they can take home with them and continue to enjoy," says Christopher Merrell, Assistant Chief of Recreation Therapy.  Merrell adds, "what is important to us is how working on the craft kits can be a significant supplement to our overall therapy and rehabilitation of the patient. We encourage treatment, leisure education, recreation participation and community re-integration. Some of our patients suffer from substance abuse or other mental health issues. Working on the crafts is something that promotes a healthy and safe activity, rewarding leisure time usage and an effective stress management tool."

"Help Hospitalized Veterans is extremely proud to offer therapeutic arts and craft kits to our nation's heroes," said HHV Executive Director Mike Lynch.  "The Department of Veterans Affairs does an outstanding job in offering quality services to our nation's veterans and we are happy to be able to support their efforts."

HHV's arts & crafts program is available to both in- and out-patient veterans receiving treatment at participating VA medical facilities - at no charge to the veteran or the VA. In addition, HHV employs over 60 Craft Care Specialists working within VA medical facilities nationwide as well as several military and state veterans nursing homes. The VA North Texas Health Care System consists of the Dallas VA Medical Center, Fort Worth VA Outpatient Clinic and the VA Medical Center in Bonham.