The Rake and Hoe Garden Club is fulfilling their mission of service to the community this year by participating in Apple Fest at the Westfield Historical Society in October where they created floral designs given away for donations to the veterans. Members purchased allium bulbs as a fundraiser this Fall as well, accumulating almost $600 in profit for the veterans. The Club appreciates all the donations from the public! This funding will be allocated to Music for All Seasons, a non-profit organization in Scotch Plains, which serves veterans through their creative song-writing program, “Voices of Valor” (voicesofvalor.org) as well as Rake and Hoe’s own established veterans projects at Lyons Veterans Hospital.
Since 1952, the Rake and Hoe Club has joyfully fulfilled their mission to provide decorating services to the Lyons Veterans Medical Center, Lyons, NJ. Four times a year the members provide floral arrangements for dining tables and individual bedside arrangements for the veterans.
In addition, for several years Rake and Hoe members have prepared gift baskets (filled with toiletries, socks, games and other necessary items) to be distributed to the veterans during the holiday season. This year 111 veteran gift bags have been delivered to Lyons Hospital. New this Fall, Rake and Hoe began writing cards to the veterans at Lyons thanking them for their service. One hundred eighty cards were hand written and sent to veterans at the Lyons Hospital. This will be done again in the Spring.
The Department of Veterans Affairs New Jersey Health Care System is comprised of two main campuses, which provide health care to veterans. Services include long-term care, psychiatric care and a full range of medical and surgical care. Special programs include cancer screening, diabetes education, healthy aging, home based care, post-traumatic stress disorder, war related illnesses and women’s health services. Lyons is affiliated with the University of Medicine and Dentistry and the Trenton State Psychiatric Hospital. On a regular basis Lyons Hospital serves approximately 390 veterans.
To read more about Lyons Veterans Medical Center and the services they provide for our military heroes, please visit http://www.va.gov/directory/guide/facility.asp?id-45. To learn more about joining Rake and Hoe Garden Club, please contact Pat Wilson, 908-389-9342 or visit their website at http://www.rakeandhoe.org/.
(above l – r) Mary Konsolaki; Diana Kazazis; Pat Wilson; Sue Dinan
