Combat Soldiers Receive Arts & Crafts as Holiday Presents

WINCHESTER, Calif., Jan. 19, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Anything that brings a little slice of home to a soldier, marine, airman or sailor serving in a time of war is something very special. Thoughts of family and friends thousands of miles away can be difficult for young GI's—thoughts that can become even more difficult to bear over the holidays.

That's what made national nonprofit organization Help Hospitalized Veterans' (HHV) arts & crafts program presence all the more special overseas recently.  A "Christmas Gift Shop" had been established at a U.S. military base in Wardak, Afghanistan in order for our military personnel to have the opportunity to select from a wide variety of arts & crafts kits—kits made available through the generosity of folks back home.

Craft kits like model airplanes and cars as well as leather belts, purses and wallets brought back memories of simpler times in the lives of these men and women—times that were carefree and fun.  Working on the kits also provided a respite for minds fatigued from the stresses of war.  The accompanying photos show our brave servicemen and women eager to receive their kits and get started putting them together.  Much like children on Christmas morning, an undeniably youthful exuberance was present during the craft kit selection process.  Joy abounded as the troops received such an uplifting reminder that there are indeed people back home who care enough about them to send "Christmas Gifts" in the form of therapeutic HHV arts & crafts kits.

Since 1971 HHV has donated over 27 million craft kits to sick and wounded veterans receiving care from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and military hospitals as well as state veterans nursing homes across the nation.  "Anything that brings these veteran patients happiness is something we should all support," said HHV President and CEO Mike Lynch.  "After all, it's only through the generosity of donors to the HHV program that allows for the distribution of these therapeutic arts & crafts kits," Lynch added.  For more information on HHV programs and services please call (888) 567-VETS or visit www.hhv.org.