A Montana Red Cross team recently delivered nearly 800 items to the VA Medical Center at Fort Harrison in Helena, giving a boost to programs that support veterans in need across the state.

And it couldn’t have come at a better time.

“Especially right now during COVID, a lot of our volunteer and donation numbers are down so it’s going to help sustain these programs for the upcoming months,” said Amy Claridge, the Montana VA’s acting chief of voluntary service.

“It’s beyond measure.”

Purchased by the Red Cross through a Department of Defense grant, these items bolster the VA’s recreational therapy program, women’s health program, homeless veterans program and help those living at the VA’s Freedoms Path housing unit. Together, the items totaled about $3,400.

The women’s health program received socks and toiletries and goodies like baby shampoo and lotion they can include in a baby cart to support parents.

Wood and leathercraft kits and puzzle books will go to veterans taking part in the recreation therapy program.

And cooking, canning and juicing items will be used in conjunction with the VA’s community gardening program, as the vets learn to grow produce and turn it into healthy meals.

“When they can learn to grow a garden and preserve those items and use them throughout the year … skills like that are so important,” Claridge said. “You’re really touching people’s lives -- and not only the veterans -- but in some instances it could also be their spouse or their children.”

Socks, gloves, hats and toiletries support homeless veterans and the VA’s in-patient clients as well.

“A sweatshirt or a pair of pants that are going to keep you warm, that’s huge,” Claridge said. “Small items people often take for granted mean the world to our vets in these situations.”

Service to the Armed Forces VA volunteer Sue Hawthorne, Montana Red Cross board member Randi Heigh and Service to the Armed Forces Program Manager Sara Cease delivered the items to Fort Harrison in early March. And many of those items are already in veterans’ hands.

“It’s an amazing opportunity to be able to support the VA and provide things that make a veteran’s life more enjoyable and give more comfort and care,” Cease said.

The Red Cross has a long history of supporting service members and their families here in Montana and across the globe. Last year, the Red Cross provided services and care to nearly 1,200 Montana military families. That includes helping deployed service men and women return home for a major event like a funeral or the birth of a child and giving families the skills they need to cope with the stress and uncertainty that comes with a deployment.

And just as importantly, the Red Cross also supports VAs and our veteran community.

“We would like to thank the American Red Cross,” Claridge said. “They’re just great people with positive attitudes. We appreciate all the efforts that went into getting the grant. These are priceless for our veterans and their families.”

To learn more the Service to the Armed Forces program and how you can get involved, visit https://www.redcross.org/about-us/our-work/military-families.html.