Senator James Sanders Jr. Brings Joy and Love to Elderly / Disabled Veterans with his Send a Vet A Valentine Program

In celebration of Valentine's Day, Marine Corps veteran and New York State Senator James Sanders Jr. (D-Rochdale Village, Far Rockaway) distributed special gifts to residents at the New York State Veterans Home at St. Albans on February 7, 2020. 
 
"Valentine's Day is a celebration of love and affection, a golden opportunity to let our veterans know that we care about them and that they are not forgotten," Sanders said. “It is always a great joy for me to thank them for their service to our country and to offer them a small token of our appreciation.”
 
Sanders distributed greeting cards, gloves, hats, scarves, socks, towels and other items which were donated by community members and groups such as P.S. 104 (The Bayswater School) – Far Rockaway, P.S. 176 (Cambria Heights), Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority (AKA), August Martin High School, Blaque Resource Network, Females Making Moves, Flowers of Hope, House-A-Soldier, New York Racing Association (NYRA), Queensborough Community College and Success Academy.

“I would like to extend a special thank you to all of our donors, without whom this event would not have been possible,” Sanders said. “Their generosity and commitment to helping this community will not soon be forgotten. I would also like to thank the New York State Veterans Home at St. Albans for their hospitality and allowing us to use their space to interact with their residents.”
 
Also in attendance at the event were: April Jones, Founder of House-A-Soldier, who donated 10 new coats, Gina Vasquez, Founder of Flowers of Hope, who donated 30 new scarves, and long-time volunteer with Senator Sanders' Office, Ms. Lucille Fowler, who donated pants and other items. 

The patients at the New York State Veterans Home at St. Albans have served in either World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam War, or Gulf War and have suffered a service-related injury that requires skilled nursing care. Others are spouses or dependents of military personnel, who receive medical or rehabilitative care. Residents range in age from 45 to 100 years old, and their stay can last anywhere from 6-8 weeks to the rest of their lives.

We would like to extend special thanks to Deirdre Samuel, Coordinator of Volunteer Services, at the NYS Veterans Home at St. Albans for helping to facilitate the event as well as the home's volunteers, many of whom are students at the Institute of Health Professions at Cambria Heights.