VA Maryland Health Care System

Veterans Affairs Celebrates Volunteers During National Volunteer Week

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Pictured is Catherine Deibel, VA volunteer, at the Perry Point Veterans Museum, where she provides visitors with information about the unique history of the Perry Point VA Medical Center and its campus.

April 25, 2008

“I can’t think of a better way to honor veterans than by volunteering at my local Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center,” says Catherine Deibel, a VA volunteer at the Perry Point VA Medical Center, a division of the VA Maryland Health Care System.

Throughout her 18 years of coordinating the volunteer program at the Perry Point facility, Deibel has come to understand fully how volunteers positively impact the lives of hospitalized veterans.  “When I retired from federal service as a VA Voluntary Service Specialist in 2006, I knew that I wanted to continue to serve veterans in some capacity.” 

Deibel has found that opportunity by volunteering at the Perry Point Veterans Museum, where she provides information to visitors about the unique historical aspects of the Perry Point campus and the medical center’s rich history of providing quality health care to veterans.  Deibel added, “Volunteering at the museum has allowed me the opportunity to stay connected with veterans, former coworkers and the local community, as well as be a part of the incredible VA volunteer family whom I have come to know over the past years.”

During the week of April 28th through May 3rd, the VA Maryland Health Care System will join other VA medical centers across the country to celebrate National Volunteer Week.  Over the past year, a total of 840 volunteers have contributed more than 80,000 hours of service to support the needs of veteran patients throughout the VA Maryland Health Care System. 

“Volunteers perform countless acts of service and are one of America’s most valuable assets,” said Dennis H. Smith, Director, VA Maryland Health Care System.  “The services, programs and activities that we are able to offer veterans as a result of volunteer involvement are what make VA a leader in the health care industry throughout the country.”

On any given day, volunteers can be seen throughout the VA Maryland Health Care System supporting and enhancing the services provided by VA employees, such as escorting wheelchair patients to their clinic appointments or to recreational activities; working on craft projects; playing cards; reading books; writing letters, or just spending quality time with a veteran listening to his/her wartime experiences.

Many volunteer opportunities exist to honor and support our nation’s veterans.  To learn more about these opportunities, please contact Susan Kern, Program Manager, Voluntary Service, VA Maryland Health Care System, at 1-800-463-6295, extension 7101.