VFW offers loans of medical equipment
Living up to its commitment to be a “community oriented veterans club here to serve the people” the Pine Island VFW Post 4353 is now reaching out to island residents who are in need assistance. Over the years, the VFW has received donations of several pieces of medical equipment and are encouraging those who need them to come in and take them out on loan.
“We have dozens of items that were just collecting dust here so we decided to lend them out to people who could use them,” said Post Service Officer, Paul Birdwell. “You don’t have to be a member of the VFW or a veteran to borrow any of the items we have to lend. We just ask that they be returned to us when you no longer need them so we can lend them out again for someone else to use.”
In the medical equipment inventory are items like manual and electric wheelchairs, walkers, canes, crutches, shower chairs and other items needed by those who my be disabled or healing.
To obtain any of these items, residents are asked to fill out an equipment request sign out sheet which can be picked up at the VFW at 8150 Stringfellow Road, St. James City.
The VFW also contributes to the island community in numerous other ways including hosting many of the patriotic federal holiday celebrations and host numerous fund raisers to benefit veterans as well as other island organizations. Some of the annual events include participation in the mayor/governors races to benefit the Pine Island Lions Club, hosting several car shows, an annual chili and corn bread cookoff and the annual MASH BASH.
According to Birdwell, the VFW is organized for Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. It is an association of men and women who as soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen who have served this nation in wars, campaigns and expeditions on foreign soil or in hostile waters, and is a federally charted corporation.
Any citizen of the United States who is serving or has served honorably in the armed forces may be eligible to join the VFW. The qualifications for membership are as follows:
— If you have served in a foreign war, insurrection or expedition, which service has been recognized as campaign medal service and is governed by the authorization of the award of a campaign badge by the government of the United States, or
— on the Korean peninsula or its territorial waters for not less than 30 consecutive days, or a total of 60 days, after June 30, 1949 or
— while a member of the armed forces serving in an area which entitled the individual to receive special pay for duty subject to hostile fire or imminent danger.
In addition to membership to the VFW, others who are not veterans, but who are a spouse or a child of a veteran are also eligible to join the VFW Men or Women’s Auxiliary.
“We also would like to remind people that the Pine Island VFW is open to the public during breakfasts, lunches and special dinners,” said Birdwell. “Come in for a visit and pick up a monthly calendar of events.”
For more information about the Pine Island VFW Post 4353, to enquire about membership or to borrow medical equipment, call the Post at 283-2277.