| Author | Message | ||
     Lowflyer |
Anyone who has been hospitalized knows that between visits from family and friends there is little to do to keep up one's spirits. Books fill that void by not only filling time but providing education. A wise man once said, "A man confined to a bed can travel the world through books." If you have an old (or new) book you've read that is now only taking up space you can make a very appreciative hospitalized veteran in a VA hospital very happy. To make a book contribution (DO NOT SEND MONEY TO BUY BOOKS), mail a used (or new) book (or two, or three) to The American War Library. The War Library will send your book(s) to veterans in VA hospitals. How to inscribe the inside cover of your book donation: "Donated By (Your Name)" Or, "Donated By The (Family Name) Family" Or, "Donated From The Heart By (Your Name or Family Name)" Or, "Donated By The (Name of your Company or Corporation)" Or, Choose your own inscription... ADDRESS TO MAIL YOUR "BOOK(S) FOR VETS": Books For Vets The American War Library 16907 Brighton Avenue, Rear Building Gardena CA 90247-5420 [Please use the United States Post Office's low cost "Media Mail" shipping rate to mail your book(s) to The War Library.] Contact Person: Roger Simpson, Public Information Officer 1-310-532-0634  | ||
| Tramp |
will do. Excellent idea. | ||
| Crashm1 |
Can I just drag a few boxes over to my local VA hospital? If I have to mail something it won't happen (just ask my creditors, thank god for the internet). Plus I go through about 200 or so books and a ridiculous quantity of magazines a year so shipping could get expensive. | ||
| Bomber |
VA hospitals (and their patients) are ALWAYS grateful for books and movies and the like -- give em a call | ||
| Lowflyer |
Crash, Of course you can donate directly to a VA hospital, but many folks don't have one nearby. Also, sending them to a central depository allows for a more even distribution of the books and more variety for the vets. They can even request certain books that way. End of sales pitch.  In other words, your donation would be graciously accepted at any VA hospital and you could walk away feeling good about your pathetic self. But, the reality is that nobody would want to be limited to choosing from among the last 10 years worth of Cycle Queer magazine and your entire collection of Judy Blume novels. It is important for folks to remember that the men and women in those hospitals are in there as a result of having sacrificed, though not specifically, for your freedom to be a lazy, unorganized, grabastic piece of amphibian s*** (or not). That does not mean you shouldn't take a break from being a turd once in awhile. The effort it takes to ship a box of books is insignificant compared to what it takes to carry the burden they are carrying for us. Shipping books via Media Mail is cheap. Quit making excuses and get off your a$$!  Cruel but fair. (Message edited by lowflyer on October 12, 2005) | ||
| Tramp |
funny- i posted something a little more diplomatic, but the same point....i think that i have my account set up for 'preview', and sometimes i just hit the button, not realizing it's only giving me a preview, and not actually posting. likely why some people say their posts "disappear" | ||
| Lowflyer |
Okay, maybe the Judy Blume comment was out of line.  | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
How about "baby sitters club"? he he... I think I can drop off a big box of stuff. I'll just need to round it up in one place. | ||
| Lowflyer |
Seriously, the link below will help you find the nearest VA hospital. They really will take your new and used books at the hospitals. Remember that these guys (some as young as 18) are stuck there for months on end dealing with life-changing injuries and relearning to do things we all take for granted. We can never fully repay them, but this is one way we can let them know our gratitude. http://www1.va.gov/directory/guide/home.asp?isFlash=1 | ||
| Swampy |
Way good idea. My son in law in Mosul, says things he gets from home is the best. I met a bus driver today that got back from Iraq this August, an MP from the unit in Owosso, MI. Wounded by schrapnel on his arm the first day over, got too close to a car bomb when it went off. Then later on he took a graze across his back just below his neck. He said "It ruined the strap on his backpack" Incredible, this guy is a retired police officer, and Army National Guard MP, probably about 60 years old. All I could do was thank him. |
