VA Maryland Health Care System

Perryville Middle School Students and Hospitalized Veterans

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Working together on a craft project are Somarlyn Patrick, Perryville Middle School student, and Helen McLaughlin, a World War II hospitalized veteran at the Perry Point VA Medical Center.

May 27, 2008

As part of their service learning project, seventh graders at the Perryville Middle School recently spent time visiting with and helping hospitalized veterans complete arts and crafts projects at the Perry Point Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center, a division of the VA Maryland Health Care System.

According to Kim Youngblood, service learning facilitator for Cecil County Public Schools, “service learning, in addition to academic study, is a learning-by-doing approach to the school curriculum that empowers students to improve their community and enhance their interpersonal skills.”

“The challenge of completing a craft project, such as putting together a puzzle, painting a picture or sun catcher, and creating leather or beaded artwork, can be very therapeutic for hospitalized veterans. It also helps them gain a sense of personal accomplishment,” says Sandi Kriebel, Help Hospitalized Veterans craft care specialist for the VA Maryland Health Care System. “Students joining hospitalized veterans for a creative activity is a great way to interact with one another and transcend generational differences."

The therapeutic arts and crafts kits used by the hospitalized veterans were made available by Help Hospitalized Veterans, an organization whose membership includes thousands of contributors across the county who want to express their appreciation to our nation’s veterans.