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VA VOLUNTARY SERVICE REPORT
BY JUDITH McCOMBS, NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE
In the most recent
fiscal year, 564 regularly scheduled volunteers credited
VVA with 81,190 hours in the VA’s Voluntary
Service program; an additional 4,921 hours were given by
individuals classified as occasional volunteers. Some of
VVA’s VAVS volunteers have participated in the VAVS
program for decades; others are relatively new.
VAVS was founded
in 1946 to provide for our nation’s
veterans while they are cared for at VA health care facilities.
It is the largest centralized volunteer program in the federal
government, supplementing staff and resources in all areas
of patient care and support. Its mission is to provide a
structured volunteer program under the management of VA employees,
in cooperation with community resources, to serve America’s
veterans and their families with dignity and compassion.
VAVS
volunteers augment staff in hospital wards, nursing homes,
ambulatory care, domiciliaries, community-based volunteer
programs, end-of-life care programs, veterans outreach centers,
national cemeteries, and Veterans Benefits Administration
regional offices. VAVS volunteers and their organizations
annually contribute millions of dollars in gifts, donations,
and time. Monetary estimates aside, it is impossible to calculate
the amount of sharing and caring VAVS volunteers give to
veteran patients. Volunteers are a priceless asset to veterans
and the VA.
The VAVS National Advisory Committee, the oldest
federal advisory committee, advises the VA on the coordination
and promotion of volunteer activities within VA health care
facilities and on other matters relating to volunteerism.
It makes recommendations to the Under Secretary for Health
for the improvement of voluntary services to patients.
VVA adopted its first VAVS
Resolution at the 1991 National Convention to “endorse,
support, and encourage participation in the VAVS program
at the chapter, state council, and national levels” and
to “seek and maintain membership
on the VAVS National Advisory Committee.” Subsequent
resolutions reaffirmed and expanded VVA’s commitment
to the VAVS program.
NAC membership is open to national organizations
that provide volunteers or donations to VA facilities. The
criterion for full voting membership is maintaining volunteers
and VA-recognized participation on local VAVS committees
at a minimum of thirty VA facilities. VVA received an appointment
to the NAC as a Service Member effective January 1, 1995.
The dynamic interaction of all three levels of VVA is crucial
to maintaining VVA’s
Service Member appointment.
VAVS is a convergence of VVA’s
founding principle and its motto: By not abandoning veterans
in the VA health care system, we are serving those who served
America, through VAVS. It is imperative that VVA not just
maintain its VAVS program, but enhance its viability, vitality,
and vigorous expansion.
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©2006-
2008, Vietnam Veterans of America. All Rights Reserved. 8605 Cameron
Street, Silver Spring, MD 20910