VA San Diego Healthcare System

VASDHS Annual Care and Share food drive packing day. We're thankful for all the volunteers who help to make our Care and Share Program a success.

'Tis the season to give back and employees at VA San Diego Healthcare System (VASDHS), for the past 32 years, have been providing Veterans a holiday meal through the Care & Share program.

In 1984, a group of employees realized some Veterans did not have enough income for food during the holiday season. To respond to that need, they created a volunteer program called Care & Share to provide food for a holiday meal for Veterans and their families who needed assistance. The Care & Share team collects donations throughout the month of December from VASDHS staff and the community.

Over 1,200 Veterans and their family members benefit annually from Care & Share, “The Veterans we serve are more than just patients, they are part of our VA family,” said Jerry Mailhot, U.S. Marine Corps Veteran and 2016 Care & Share Coordinator at VASDHS. Veterans are chosen by the Social Work department and individually contacted to help tailor the bag of donated food for the family in need.

In order to create and distribute the bags of goods to Veterans, employees at VASDHS organize several fundraising events. Volunteers from VASDHS and the local community hold events from December 1- 8, and include a Bake Sale, Adopt- a-Family fundraiser, Baked Potato Sale, and Silent Auction, “This is an opportunity to help a Veteran and their family during the holidays with 100% of the donations going directly to assist Veterans,” said Mailhot. This year Care & Share has created a GoFundMe account for anyone who would like to contribute to the cause at www.gofundme.com/2016-care-share.  After the funds are raised, the Care & Share team along with VASDHS employees come together to pack every bag with a complete holiday meal.  The next day, the bags of food are hand delivered to Veterans around the San Diego area. Throughout the years the increasing employee participation has raised money upwards of $16,000 dollars. Over the past 32 years Care & Share has provided holiday meals for more than 15,000 Veterans and their families.  Veterans have told us that they were overwhelmed by the thoughtfulness and generosity during the holidays. Thanks to all of the dedicated employees who make this event a success each year.

Would you like to make a real difference this year for a Veteran?  For $25 you can adopt a family and provide a complete holiday meal for a Veteran and their family.  Contact Jerry Mailhot at (858) 642-3639 to donate or volunteer.  The VA will provide a donation form for your tax records.