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January 10, 2008

Photo Caption:  Pictured during the check presentation from the American Legion Dorchester Post are from left to right John Shaughnessy, Commander, American Legion Dorchester Post 91; Susan Kern, Program Manager, Voluntary Service, VA Maryland Health Care System; and Glenn A. Robinson, Past Commander, American Legion Dorchester Post 91.

American Legion Post 91 Contributes $12,000
For Veteran Patients Throughout Maryland

Members of the American Legion Dorchester Post 91 in Cambridge, Maryland, recently donated $12,000 to the Veterans Affairs (VA) Maryland Health Care System for the benefit of veterans throughout the state.

A total of $6,000 was donated to purchase hearing aids for veterans on the Eastern Shore who receive their health care services at the Cambridge VA Outpatient Clinic.  The Cambridge Clinic is the largest outpatient clinic in the VA Maryland Health Care System with over 20,000 outpatient visits a year.  Many of the veterans who are treated at the clinic need hearing aids, but are ineligible under VA guidelines to receive them.  

At a cost of $600 to $1,300 per two devices, the expensive hearing aids are in great demand and supplies diminish quickly.  Veterans must be enrolled in the VA system and obtain a referral from their primary care provider in order to receive the hearing aids.  Although hearing aids are free to veterans through this program, a co-pay and other charges may apply for related services such as evaluations and fittings. 

In addition to the donation of $6,000 for the Hearing Aid Program at the Cambridge Clinic, the Post also presented two additional checks totaling $3,000 each to be used toward the patient holiday gift program at the Baltimore and Perry Point VA Medical Centers.  Because of the generosity of community volunteers and organizations, like the American Legion Dorchester Post 91, over 700 hospitalized veterans throughout the VA Maryland Health Care System were remembered during the holiday season with special gift bags that included blankets, telephone calling cards, puzzle books, hats, notepads and pens, radios and toiletry items purchased with donated funds. 

To learn how you or your organization can support programs that enrich the lives of our nation’s hospitalized veterans, please contact Margaret Hornberger, Community Resources Development Specialist for the VA Maryland Health Care System, at 1-800-949-1003, extension 5409.