Tennessee pageant contestants deliver thousands of dollars in veteran donations | va tennessee valley health care | veterans affairs

Pageant contestants from the Tennessee State Fair Association donated more than 11,000 goods last month to VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System (TVHS) for Veterans in need. Loaded inside a

15-foot U-Haul truck were thousands of items and goods worth approximately $30,000. The donation included hygiene and toiletry items, clothing, canned goods, and paper goods. “We love our

Veterans and want to support them however we can,” the group of pageant contestants said. The group explained they wanted to give back and show their appreciation to those who have given so

much to the country, and they are planning to make annual donations to TVHS. “We’re very grateful for the Tennessee State Fair Association’s generosity, and I know our Veteran patients will

appreciate this donation, too,” Tom Gallagher, Chief of Center for Development and Civic Engagement at TVHS said. “Not only does VA help Veterans in need, so does our community.  We’re very

lucky to have such a caring and compassionate community here in middle Tennessee.” Once a donation is made to TVHS, it’s inventoried and stored within the hospital and made available to

eligible inpatients and Veterans in need. Veterans requesting personal goods have to be enrolled in VA health care and can contact the TVHS Social Work team to arrange a pick-up date. TVHS

depends on the goodwill of its supporters, and community members can make a difference in Veterans’ lives. Visit the TVHS volunteer website or call 615-225-6496 to learn how to donate or

volunteer.