Bay pines va nurse promotes giving, cheer during holiday season | va bay pines health care | veterans affairs

A gathering of volunteers, a cluster of bikes, an oversized teddy bear, and a sea of gift sacks was the view encountered at a loading dock on the C.W.Y. VA Medical Center campus on the

morning of Dec. 16, 2023. Amongst it all, Christine Long stood ready to proudly facilitate the Adopt a Veteran for the Holidays event for the seventh consecutive year. “My family proudly

represents every branch of the military; all of my uncles, cousins, brother, and my son have served,” the Bay Pines VA Healthcare System’s Community Living Center nurse manager shared.

“Continuing this mission to help Veteran families in need during the holidays is my way of giving back.” The annual tradition began when Long spotted an Angel Tree in the lobby of the VA

Medical Center she was working in at the time. Inspired by the sight, she reached out to a Bay Pines VA social worker to find out if she could sponsor a Veteran family for the holidays. Long

received the green light and over time, her seed of gratitude has bloomed in abundance. This year, the drive-thru event supported 104 children in 46 families; this brings the total number

of beneficiaries throughout the years to 353 children in 171 families.  “This is such a great thing that's being done for my family. Most of my kids’ presents come from this program,”

shared Kwin Simmons, a Veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps. “I’ve had some hard times over the last two years, but VA always comes through for us. We pretty much get everything we ask for and

the staff go above and beyond.”  A combination of 41 groups of Bay Pines VA staff as well as individual employees contributed to the success of this year’s event. Simmons continued, “I just

want Veterans to know that if they need help with their physical, mental or anything else, the VA is here for us. I’ve benefited from everything offered here and my life has changed

tremendously.” Long works closely with Dustin Chennault and Rose Attardo, from the Bay Pines VA Social Work Service, and Edgardo Solivan, from the Center for Development and Civic Engagement

(CDCE), formerly known as Voluntary Service, to facilitate the giving. First, the social workers across the service evaluate the case of each Veteran they work with to identify who is in

need. Next, the Veterans provide a wish list, which is shared with Long then distributed to those who volunteered to adopt a Veteran. Lastly, the presents are stored in CDCE until they’re

ready to be picked up. “You truly appreciate the sacrifices that Veterans and their families make when you either witness, or experience first-hand, what they and their loved ones endure to

serve this country,” Long shared. “Our goal is to help fill their lives with the cheer and joy they deserve.”