VA volunteers deserve thanks

National Volunteer Week is April 18-24, 2021. VA Connecticut Healthcare System takes this opportunity to thank the hundreds of individuals, organizations and businesses who donate their time and resources in support of our veterans.

VA’s Voluntary Services was founded in 1946 and is the largest centralized volunteer program in the federal government. Volunteers serve at VA hospitals, clinics, cemeteries, readjustment counseling centers and regional offices. In Connecticut, our volunteers serve at the West Haven and Newington campuses in addition to our Errera Center/West Haven Annex in Orange and six community clinics in Danbury, New London, Stamford, Waterbury, Willimantic and Winsted.

While volunteer opportunities were impacted by the pandemic, we’re proud of the 317 volunteers who donated their time in fiscal year 2020. These volunteers provided us with more than 26,000 hours of service. Veterans receiving care with VA Connecticut also benefited from $962,000 in donations to the health care system in the form of goods, services and monetary contributions.

We hope to welcome back many of our longtime volunteers as pandemic restrictions allow and hope others will consider joining our volunteer team. If you’re interested, please email convoluntary@va.gov or call 203-937-3814.

We recognize that our volunteers have many options when it comes to donating their time and talents. On behalf of the veterans we care for and our 3000 employees, we thank our volunteers for choosing to serve at VA Connecticut.

Sincerely,

Alfred A. Montoya Jr. Medical center director West Haven