Mail call! Mail is delivered about three times a week. Yvonne's got a big smile on her face even though she's now got her work cut out for her :-) Those large boxes are blankets and although it looks like a lot, the number of blankets shown here can be gone within two days. (All of these photos can be enlarged by clicking on them.)
The receiving room where donations are unpacked and documented.
Here volunteers are sorting mixed personal care items so they can be stored and distributed by type.
Many items are distributed as soon as they unpacked, but others move into storage. Nothing stays around long - the items in the storage rooms turn over completely about once a month. The shelves shown here have bins of knit caps, flip flops, and men's deoderant in addition to the blankets you can see.
Like most medical facilities, space is tight so our shelves are only a few feet apart. Part of the shelf to the left has a box with religious items as well as electronics like hand-held games and iPods. On the back wall you can see some blankets sorted by service branch.
Toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, soap, razors, shaving cream, nail clippers, q-tips, combs, foot powder, deoderant, lotion - you name it, we got it (from all of you!!).
In another storage room additional blankets and travel pillows are stored in boxes stacked against the back wall, and in front of the shelves are grab bins with lounge pants.
Sweat pants and hoodies are most difficult to keep in stock, as you can see by the sparse shelves. T-shirts, underwear, and socks are stored on an island of shelves to the right in the middle of the room.
Leta unpacking a shipment of sweats.
Clothing, blankets, and personal care items are placed on self-service shelves in the laundry rooms of both outpatient barracks so they are are available 24/7. There are three sets of shelves in each building where the outpatients stay while being evaluated and treated at the hospital.
Gold Star Mom Linda Ferrara helping a patient select a blanket. He's wearing a Soldiers' Angels t-shirt he received in an SA backpack at a hospital in Afghanistan.
Linda and MaryAnn unpacking quilts.
Calling cards, blankets, travel pillows, knit caps, and other items are delivered to the hospital wards for inpatients, as well as coffee for the nursing staff.
May no Soldier walk alone,
May no Soldier be forgotten,
Until they all come home.
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