WINCHESTER, CA--(Marketwire - June 11, 2010) - Roe Siermine of Elizabethton, Tennessee had a rough year in 2009. She lost her fiancé, and is having a very tough time dealing with it. "Sometimes my heart aches so much I just can't bear it." It's those particular days that Siermine heads to the VA Medical Center in Mountain Home, Tennessee and donates some volunteer time.
"I sometimes think that... when I'm not feeling like going out... is when the veterans need me. They tell me that they look forward to my visits and I don't want to let them down."
Siermine volunteers about 15 hours a week in the Community Living Center. "I work mostly with the older veterans and assist the nurses with whatever help they may need." Siermine, however, doesn't stop there in her support of hospitalized veterans; she also donates to the nonprofit organization Help Hospitalized Veterans (HHV), the largest supplier of free therapeutic arts & crafts kits to our nation's VA and military hospitals.
"I often go to the arts & crafts room to visit with the veterans. I love to see their smiling faces as they work on an HHV kit. The crafts give them such happiness and joy, it's a beautiful thing to see," said Siermine.
"Around Thanksgiving there was one veteran working on a turkey table centerpiece and another putting together a clock he planned to give as a Christmas gift. As a donor, it is such a pleasure to be able to see where my money is going and the positive impact it is making. A lot of times you give to a charity but you never get to see where it goes. Every time I am in the arts & crafts room I feel pride knowing I helped make it happen. The kits make a big difference in the veterans' lives and HHV is a great place to send your donor dollars."
Siermine encourages everyone she knows to "give back to those who have sacrificed for all of us," by volunteering at their local VA. Siermine was also recently recognized for her efforts with a special contribution nursing award by the staff at the VA. "I'm told it's uncommon to receive this award as a volunteer. I'm just so proud to be able to help in some small way. I feel as though I get far more pleasure from the veterans than they get from me."
For more information on volunteering, please contact your nearest VA medical facility, or visit www.va.gov. For more information on programs and services offered by HHV, please visit www.hhv.org or call 888-567-VETS.
Documents and/or Photos available for this release:
PDF_of_release.
To view supporting documents and/or photos, go to www.enr-corp.com/pressroom and enter Release ID: 259561.