Patients arrive daily at the Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center thinking they are there for a routine examination, only to be told they must stay overnight for additional observation and testing. These events often lead to frustration on the part of the veterans and their families as they are unprepared for this news.

 

Thanks to the Harrison County Community Educational Outreach Service organization, a lot of those frustrations have been alleviated. Donations of personal hygiene, comfort, and entertainment items have been offered to the VA by the clubs comprising this century-old organization. This donation is made annually by the CEOS to the VA as part of a community service project done during CEOS Week in West Virginia.

 

This particular community service donation has been a part of the clubs’ commitment to the veterans for more than 15 years. The project began as a way of saying thank you to the men and women who served in America’s armed forces. Many of the CEOS members have fathers, husbands, sons, and daughters who have served in the military.

 

Several of the donated items were given specifically to help homeless veterans in the community, along with those making the transition into housing. Some items were targeted to female veterans. All of the items collected were turned over to the VA’s Volunteer Services department.

 

The Harrison County CEOS organization is made up of 18 clubs and about 300 members scattered throughout the county. The CEOS is part of the programming sponsored by the West Virginia University Extension Service. To join a club or for more information about the CEOS, contact the Harrison County office at 304-624-8650.

 

The programs and activities offered by the WVU Extension Service are available to all persons without regard to race, color, sex, disability, religion, age, veteran status, political beliefs, sexual orientation, national origin, and marital or family status. When registering for these programs, please designate special access or dietary needs three weeks prior. The information given herein is supplied with the understanding that no discrimination is intended  and no endorsement by the Cooperative Extension Service is implied.