Spouse Calls: Helping hands for wounded vets

Our Mothers of Preschoolers group would like to be involved in helping the wounded soldiers at Landstuhl. We would like to know who we can ask about services offered for them or how we could help out on a one-time or regular basis — not just at holidays, but through the year. We would appreciate any info.

— Bonnie, Ramstein AB, Germany

Thanks for the reminder, Bonnie, that supporting military personnel is a year-round commitment. There are many ways to reach out and help wounded soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines, at Landstuhl and elsewhere.

Right in your neighborhood is the Contingency Aeromedical Staging Facility at Ramstein Air Base. The CASF is where newly dismissed patients from Landstuhl Regional Medical Center await flights home or back to their units.

“The CASF is currently in need of volunteers … to help out on Sundays,” said Amanda Malloy. Amanda, a military spouse, is volunteer coordinator for the USO Kaiserslautern, which serves the Ramstein and Landstuhl areas. The USO at the CASF provides a day room with computers, games and food.

Food donations and home baked goods are also appreciated at the CASF, said Amanda.

Anyone who wants to help or drop off food must first contact Amanda at malloya.uso@tks-net.com.

Volunteers and food donations are also welcome at the Medical Transient Detachment at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center.

These dormitories, situated next to the hospital, house between 100 to 200 wounded warriors who are receiving outpatient treatment, said Barbara Pepple, who coordinates support for the MTD.

One way to serve is through Mission Just Us, Barbara said.

“They volunteer four days a week to come and pick up the residents and take them to the exchange, the movies or out to eat.

“We have volunteers that come in and cook for the wounded warriors,” she said, adding that volunteer barber services are also appreciated.

Microwaveable food items are helpful as well, said Master Sgt. Larry McGowan, first sergeant for the MTD. The residents have access to a kitchen and have microwaves in their rooms.

To find out more about the MTD, its needs and how to help, contact Barbara at barbara.pepple@us.army.mil, or LaKeesha Holmes at missionjustus@ ramstein.af.mil.

Care for veterans is an ongoing concern, and not only for those living in Germany. Another way to reach out to wounded veterans is to volunteer in a Veteran’s Administration program.

In southern California, MaryEllen Crocker coordinates the VA hospital visitation program for the all-ranks spouses club at Los Angeles Air Force Base.

Once a month, volunteers from the base visit and play bingo with patients at a VA facility in Long Beach.

“It’s so very important that these people know … they’re not forgotten,” MaryEllen said.

“Another reason for me is that I felt that I’ll be there someday,” said MaryEllen, a veteran as well as a military spouse. “I felt I’d want the care and compassion of others in my time of need.

“Bottom line, any one person or group can make a big difference,” MaryEllen said. “Whether it’s just visiting patients in any hospital one-on-one or in a group environment. Letting them know they are cared for and worth our time — that’s all that truly matters.”

The Web site of the Department of Veterans Affairs has a page dedicated to volunteer programs at www1.va.gov/volunteer/. Click on “Find a Facility” to search for volunteer opportunities anywhere.

I’ve listed these links and more ways to help the wounded at LRMC and elsewhere on the Spouse Calls blog: http://blogs.stripes.com/blogs/ spousecalls.

Terri Barnes is a military wife and mother of three. She lives and writes in Germany. Send questions or comments to her at spousecalls@stripes.com