Rosalie and I took part in what turned out to be a very interesting and rewarding event on Saturday at The VA Medical Center at Jefferson Barracks. The Red Cross, in partnership with Boeing, hosted a Bingo party for the veterans that are patients at VAMC.

The volunteers set up the VA gymnasium where the event was held and then went to the rooms of the patients and transported them to the gymnasium location.

We then socialized with the patients and assisted them in a 2 hour session of Bingo, with drinks and snacks being served to them as they played.  The patients had a broad range of medical problems, but all seemed to appreciate the personal attention and the entertainment of socializing with the volunteers.

It was a fast 2 hours!

After the Bingo, we transported the patients back to their rooms and helped them carry their loot from the party.

The patients were very happy for this bright spot in their hospital routine and thanked us all many times (I do think some of the younger veterans appreciated the younger female volunteers more than us older men, though!).

We hope there will be more opportunities to do similar events for the veterans that have done service for all of us!

Dave & Rosalie Whitfield

Dave and Rosalie Whitfield are DSHR volunteers with the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter.