OCW donates $10,000 to Tomah VA Medical Center

While in town for a town hall meeting and Veterans Benefits Center, The American Legion also delivered much-needed items to the Tomah VA Medical Center in Wisconsin.

An Operation Comfort Warriors grant of $10,000 will be used a variety of ways at the medical center. In July, Department of Wisconsin Legionnaires will deliver socks, mouthwash, toothpaste, shampoo and other items to the Tomah Veteran’s Closet.

Another portion of the money is going toward the purchase of adaptive hockey gear for veterans rehabilitating at the center.

“Tomah VA has a very active adaptive sports program, so the sled hockey equipment will be very helpful when veterans go to learn about the sport, and to practice and play,” said Tomah Voluntary Services Coordinator Laura Bishop. “When we have our own equipment, we will not have to borrow from the groups we are playing hockey with.”

And $3,000 of the donation is going toward creating a recording studio at the center that will provide a variety of uses for veterans using it.

“It can be used as a rehearsal area on a day-to-day basis,” Bishop said. “But prior to (VA’s) Creative Arts Festival competition, it will be used to work on individual veteran’s entries. We will no longer need to use a recording studio in town to prepare our submissions for the Creative Arts Festival.

“We will also use the studio to expand the recording of veterans’ stories for the Veterans History Project.”