CHAPTER PROGRAMS

from Colonial PVA 2022 Annual Report

FUNDRAISING

Advocacy in the community is a major, ongoing concern. Working with other organizations has increased public awareness of the potential of individuals with disabilities in the workplace, at the polls, in the marketplace and in community service. The Colonial PVA serves as advocates for those with disabilities by participating in activities within the community. As a means for advocating for the veteran and non-veteran, Chapter members serve on a variety of organizations which help to assure access and education within the community to better the lives of those with disabilities.

The chapter’s advocacy program also extends to local VA Medical Centers (VAMC), Community Living Centers, and Community Based Outpatient Clinics within our region. Colonial PVA officers and board members and the PVA National Service Officers (NSO) meet with spinal cord injury (SCI) teams on a quarterly basis virtually all year. These meetings are very productive and have contributed to reaching a higher level of quality care for our members. The chapter also provides vital equipment as needed to support the success of these clinics. All the meetings have been held virtually all year due to the COVID19 pandemic.

To celebrate PVA Awareness Month, the Colonial PVA organized an event on April 1, 2022, called the Great Roll. Members participated in a scavenger hunt throughout downtown Annapolis, Maryland and interacted with the public to raise awareness of issues people with disabilities face traversing in a city. 24 Members collected stamps from different locations spread throughout the city for the chance to win a visa gift card and distributed literature about the PVA into the community along the way

Board and Chapter members did attend virtual ceremonies whenever possible for military organizations throughout our region, including the Baltimore City, Maryland official ceremony. Board members and staff are available to assist the newly injured spinal cord patient by way of a mentoring process which encourages education and employment and teaches skills for coping with a new disability.

Unique to the Colonial PVA is the Accessibility Needs Program which was initiated in 1985. The program is vital to the disabled community because it provides much needed aids for independent living, such as wheelchairs, prosthetic aids, ramps, wheelchair home and bathroom modifications and vehicle modifications. These items are provided to individuals with low income who cannot afford the items they desperately need.

The chapter receives a grant from the State of Delaware and supplements the program with gifts from private foundations to ensure that all persons with disabilities, regardless of their veteran or non-veteran status, will receive needed assistance. Our chapter is the only one in the nation which runs a program of this nature and one of the only organizations in the State of Delaware which provides aid to children with disabilities. This program has recently been expanded into Maryland to help low-income veterans.

Cooperation with other agencies is often possible and helps reduce the costs to the program, enabling more individuals to be helped. We are proud that this is part of our chapter programs and of the positive effect on the quality of life for many individuals In the past year, we have help 10 people live a more accessible life in the state of Delaware for a total cost of $59,988. We installed 5 wheelchair ramps for $41,434, 2 stairlifts for $14,549, 2 door openers for $830, and purchased 1 prosthetic for $3,175. All 10 of these individuals were confined to a wheelchair with various medical issues, including spinal cord injuries, Tetraplegia, amputations, gunshot victim, and chronic systolic heart. 50% of the applicants were veterans. The average age of applicants was and the oldest being

Hoskins Education and Reemployment Training (HEART) Program

In 2020, the Colonial PVA launched a new initiative, the Hoskins Education and Reemployment Training (HEART) program, to provide employment and educational opportunities to PVA members, their family members, or caregivers. The HEART program is a 24-week paid fellowship opportunity for PVA members, spouses, and caregivers to work on behalf of the Chapter while also providing them the opportunity to develop new experience, skills, and training to pursue outside employment this is a great “earn while you learn” opportunity. At the same time, HEART Fellow participants will work with a PVA Veterans Career Program Vocational Rehabilitation Couns term career plans, explore education opportunities, and work on resumes and interview skills.

The Mentoring Program was designed by the Colonial PVA to support the unique needs of our members, regardless of when they served or how they were injured. Our dedicated volunteers are trained to assist anyone, from newly paralyzed individuals and their family members to people who have lived with an injury for some time. Adapting to life with paralysis is easier with the help of a peer who has gone through similar situations. We assist members in navigating their changing world and the services available to them so that they can gain higher levels of health, wellbeing, and independent living.

The Colonial PVA understands that there is an adjustment period to paralysis, and it is a process of changing one’s thoughts and feelings which takes some time to accomplish. Our goal is to support members during this adjustment period by helping them rebuild their identity and to help the newly injured find a new balance within themselves. The stages of adjustment include grieving, taking control, talking about your disability, taking care of yourself, and looking ahead. With this program, the Colonial PVA pairs up a newly injured veteran with a veteran with a similar injury or disease. This would help members with depression handle their emotions and teach them a coping strategy.

The mentoring program helps in all areas and improve these behaviors, thoughts, and emotions with the changes that occur in the veteran’s life. We would also help them find training to help with finding employment. It has been proven that veterans with paralysis have a higher suicide rate averaging around 22 per day, or one every 65 minutes. The Colonial PVA recognizes the importance of this program and wants to help their comrades with this mentoring program to help make a difference in the veteran’s life. All mentors receive training through the Christopher Reeves foundation.

Colonial PVA realizes that sports and recreation is a valuable rehabilitative tool which is effective in rebuilding self-esteem and self-confidence as well as promoting the health and welfare of its participants. Colonial PVA’s sports program has many dimensions. We provide information, sponsor training sessions, and support the concept of sports as a rehabilitative tool by providing our membership and the disabled many opportunities to compete and participate in sports and recreation events on a regular basis.

The Colonial PVA hosted a variety of sporting and recreational activities throughout the fiscal year for members to participate including fishing trips, two professional baseball games, 9-Ball Tournament, Bocce Tournament, Chair Yoga, Scavenger hunts, holiday parties, and a virtual tour of the Great Wall of China. Members were also encouraged to participate in social outings at various VFW’s and American Legions events the Chapter was invited to speak, including their state conventions and their Board meetings.

Support is provided through the Chapter’s individual sports funding program for members to attend various events, fishing, and golf, cycling and to fly glider planes and other wheelchair sporting events. In addition, support is also provided to the Recreational Therapy Departments at the Wilmington, Baltimore, and Perry Point VAMCs for members and others with disabilities to attend the National Veterans Wheelchair Games, National Golden Age Games, and the DAV Winter Sports Clinic.

Communications are central to our organization, and it is a priority to educate the public about our programs, services, and membership. The Chapters Newsletter “The Ramp” is published six times a year and keeps members, volunteers and donors informed with the most recent Washington updates, articles from National PVA, and all the events from national and the chapter.

Our Annual Report is published each year and distributed to our membership and the public. Other communication is done through emails, letters, phone calls, the Chapter website, and our Chapter’s Facebook page. Member trading cards were also created for a PVA Awareness event this fiscal year and distributed to the public.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the Colonial PVA has acted to ensure our members who are catastrophically injured, have had access to resources they needed to survive. We made it our number one priority to continue to work on the front line, ensuring our members are getting needed supplies delivered to their homes. With underlying health issues, paralyzed veterans, and all people with serious disabilities, are at the greatest risk for deadly repercussions should they contact COVID-19.

Tasks that used to be a challenge, like going to the grocery store, turned impossible for our members. Many in this vulnerable population use wheelchairs and rely on others for daily care and supplies. They remained trapped in their homes with growing concern about exposure and limited supplies. This brings increased anxiety and/or depression to our members.

With the help of our members, volunteers, and office staff, we continue to call all our members and check on their health and needs during this time We have been doing follow up call’s monthly to all our members and help them with their needs.

The Colonial PVA started a new outreach campaign in 2021 called “Rolling Across Maryland”, where Colonial members visited Maryland VFW’s and American Legions to socialize with VFW members and speak during their monthly board meetings and their state conventions about who the PVA is and what we have to offer. This campaign has been successful in raising funds and increasing membership and the Chapter is planning on expanding to Delaware, New Jersey, and Philadelphia in the future.

The Colonial PVA was represented at the annual Advocacy/Legislation Seminar in Washington, DC. by the Colonial PVA Government Relations Directors: President Matthew Peeling, Treasurer Robert Reuter, Board Member John Pepe, and Colonial Member Anthony Malet. After a training session lead by National PVA, all our government relations directors meet virtually with 27 elected officials from Delaware, Maryland, and New Jersey to discuss PVA’s Point Papers on issues of concern to veterans and people with disabilities.

Colonial PVA continues to represent its members and others with disabilities at all levels of government; local,

PVA National Service Officers (NSO’s) represent most of our membership before the Veterans Administration regarding claims for benefits. NSO Tim Besse works out of the Baltimore VA, NSO Joseph Weeks works at the Philadelphia VA, and NSO Senior Secretary Dawn Smith works at the Wilmington VA.

Participation in VA Voluntary Service (VAVS) programs at VA hospitals is another advocacy avenue for Colonial PVA. Contributions of various sundries for the patients, canteen books, and daily coffee for the hospital recreation rooms are made on a quarterly basis, as well as other needed items upon request. Colonial PVA has also donated to special events at Wilmington, Baltimore, Perry Point, and Loch Raven VA facilities throughout the past year. The chapter participated in various VA sponsored events. Support was also provided to VA Medical Centers for holiday celebrations for patients. Up until the pandemic, the Colonial PVA has a dedicated group of VAVS volunteers who unselfishly give their time to help the VA Medical Centers run more efficiently. Colonial PVA maintains constant liaison with VA officials to keep abreast of changing issues. The Chapter has VAVS representatives and deputies in VA Medical Centers who regularly attend VAVS virtual meetings to serve the needs and concerns of the veteran patients. The Chapter also contributes necessary supplies to hospitalized members and administrative medical service departments.

Colonial PVA operates a Chapter Hospital Liaison Program at the Wilmington VA and Baltimore VA that maintains a relationship with the VA Medical Centers where our members receive healthcare. The liaisons visit assist with advocacy and oversight of delivery , the CHL was put on hold by PVA

The Colonial PVA Member and Caregiver program takes place with a member and caregiver 2-day retreat, which is focused on thanking all the caregivers who take care of our members with disabilities. Events are planned for caregivers to relax and inspire in quiet and peaceful surroundings. All events are comprised of some alone time for personal reflection and relaxation. Also, included in the program is yoga, meditation, painting, mix and mingle, entertainment, and awards ceremony for the caregivers.

The Colonial PVA Member and Caregiver Program was initiated in 2019 by Executive Director JoAnn Bedsworth to give members a much-needed break, along with their caretakers and spouses. The caregivers are all recognized, and awards are given out in a ceremony to start out the event. The Chapter then hosts accessible events for members, caregivers, and spouses to participate in throughout the weekend.

Colonial PVA office staff are responsible for planning the event with the help of volunteers. The chapter dedicates the weekend to all the caregivers and spouses for their commitment to provide the help and attention to our members’ needs.

In 2022, the Colonial PVA hosted their annual event in Ocean City, Maryland on September 30- October 2, 2022, at the Grands Hotel by in Ocean City, Maryland. On Friday night, 29 PVA members arrived with their caregivers. The Mix and Mingle Welcome Dinner began at 6:30 PM Friday night, where guests were treated to dinner, drinks, and music, participated in a Trivia game, and watched an Award Ceremony. On Saturday, members and caretakers were split up to participate in separate events. The Caregivers took part in a workshop through Nancy’s House, while the Members played Bocce, 9-Ball, and participated in a scavenger hunt. The day ended with an Awards Dinner hosted by Buckeye PVA where the winners of all the events were announced, and a motivational speaker addressed the group

The Colonial PVA supports VA Medical Centers within our area of responsibility through quarterly and as needed donations to support patient needs. Grants and awards were also presented to various organizations during the past year, including a yearly contribution to the PVA Research Foundation, PVA Education Foundation and the Clinical Practice Guidelines Program. The Colonial PVA also financially supported the nonprofit Nancy’s House, who’s mission is to support caretakers and the Elkton VFW’s annual golf fundraiser.

Attendant Funding Grant

started the Attendant Funding grant this year and is only offered in the state of Delaware. It provides a grant to r financial assistance with attendant care. This $500 dollars a year for each member that meets guidelines.

rovides a Five Hundred dollar grant per year for those Services. To be eligible, the member must demonstrate the need for services, and meet income and asset levels. These program helps the members caregivers to schedule home care and overnight respite. This way, the caregiver can take care of their own obligations without neglecting their loved one’s needs.

Membership Reimbursement Fund Grant

All chapter members are entitled to $100 per fiscal year to use toward recreational actives such as dining out with their spouse, going to the movies, attending hotel stays, vacation expenses, hobby supplies, etc. Receipts from such activities just need to be mailed to the Colonial PVA Chapter office by the end of the fiscal ye and the member will be reimbursed