‘Tis the season of giving, and the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans and D.J. Jacobetti Home for Veterans have provided guidance for anyone wishing to make the holiday season a little brighter for veterans who live at the homes.

Clothing items for both women and men, like sweats, undergarments, Velcro shoes and baseball hats featuring military and team logos are on veterans’ wish lists this year. Toiletries such as soap, shampoo and conditioner, shaving utensils and cream and denture adhesives are also needed. Other items requested include batteries, postage stamps, large print books, new magazines and new release DVDs.

The Grand Rapids Home for Veterans is extending hours of operation at its donation center during the holiday season. From now until Dec. 30, its donation center, located in the NCO Building across from the pond at 3000 Monroe Avenue N.E., Grand Rapids, MI 49505, is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m., and Saturdays, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

The D.J. Jacobetti Home for Veterans donation center, 425 Fisher Street, Marquette, MI 49855, is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. to collect items from the public.

Additionally, tax deductible donations can be made to the home’s post funds through the Michigan e-Store. Information about that process as well as a complete list of needed items for both homes is located on MVAA’s website.

Tracey Nelson has been hired to serve as the administrator of the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans ,Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency Director James Robert Redford recently announced. Her first day will be Dec. 4.

Nelson comes to GRHV from MediLodge of Capital Area, where she has served as the facility’s administrator since March 2012. The Lansing-based facility provides skilled nursing care, short- and long-term care, physical and occupational therapy, respite care, memory care, palliative care and other services to 120 residents.

As GRHV administrator, Nelson will manage the home’s staff, day-to-day operations and activities of its more than 300 members. She will also work closely with MVHS interim Chief Executive Officer Brad Slagle and D.J. Jacobetti Home for Veterans Administrator Ryan Engle.

Prior to MediLodge, Nelson worked for Lutheran Homes of Michigan, Nexcare HealthSystems and Shoreline Health Care. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Social Science from Eastern Michigan University and an associate’s degree from Macomb Community College.

Nelson takes over for Steve Rolston, who had been serving as interim administrator after the home’s former administrator, Scott Blakeney, resigned in September. Rolston will return full time to his position as chief operating officer of MVHS.

The Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency recently recognized 70 colleges, universities and professional trade schools from throughout the state as 2017 Veteran-Friendly Schools.

The program awards bronze-, silver- or gold-level status to the participating educational institutions for their commitment to providing on-campus, veteran-centric services to student veterans and dependents utilizing a GI Bill and other educational benefits. This is the program’s third year; 65 schools participated in 2016 and 57 in 2015.

As in previous years, more than half of the participants received a gold ranking. Overall, 42 schools were awarded gold, 24 earned silver and four received bronze.

An estimated 16,458 military-connected students are attending the 70 ranked institutions for the 2017 academic year.

Criteria the schools must meet include having an active student-operated veterans club or association; veteran-specific career services or advising; on-campus veteran’s coordinator and awarding credit based on prior military training and experience.

The veteran-friendly designation is available to any institution of higher learning eligible to receive veteran education benefits, regardless of size, location or program delivery. Institutions apply annually for a designation, with an application and review process conducted every spring semester.

A complete listing of schools and their rankings is available on MVAA's website.

Eleven individuals have been charged with promoting the centennial of World War I in Michigan and the state’s role in the conflict by Gov. Rick Snyder.

The World War I Centennial Commission was established earlier this year and consists of 13 members – 11 appointed by the governor, and one each by the state Senate Majority Leader and Speaker of the House.

The governor’s appointments are:

• Joseph Calvaruso, executive director of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation.
• Christopher Causley, a logistics specialist for the United States Army Tank Automotive Command and founding member and president of the Michigan Military Technical and Historical Society Museum.
• Jack Dempsey, a member of Dickinson Wright PLLC and a member of the Michigan Historical Commission.
• Edwin Fogarty, adjunct mathematics instructor at Jackson College and the great-nephew of a World War I veteran.
• David Hales, social studies consultant for Wayne Regional Educational Service Agency.
• Ken Hibl, former Clare city manager, served 31 years of active service in the United States Army.
• Shelly Kasprzycki, executive director of the Michigan Humanities Council.
• Denny Olson, chair of the Dickinson County Township Association, is a U.S. Army veteran who served in the Vietnam War.
• Dennis Skupinski, a banker at Huntington Bank, has been instrumental in commemorating the centennial of World War I.
• James Spurr, senior partner at Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone, PLC, is the president of the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society.
• Mark Sutton, public relations director of the American Legion Department of Michigan. 

Members will serve terms expiring Dec. 31, 2018.

According to the United States Foundation for the Commemoration of the World Wars, Michigan contributed more than 135,000 service men and women and suffered more than 5,000 casualties. Michigan’s Base Hospitals 17 and 36 and the 16th Regiment of Engineers all volunteered, and the 125th and 126th Infantry Regiments and the 119th Field Artillery Regiment from the National Guard participated. Michigan also leveraged its manufacturing and engineering industries for the war effort.

The Grand Rapids Home for Veterans is seeking vigil volunteers for its No Member Dies Alone program, which provides companionship and assistance to members who are entering the final stages of their lives.

Vigil volunteers provide comfort at the bedside when family and friends can’t be present, and ensure no one faces the challenge of death alone.

Applicants must fill out a volunteer form; undergo background and reference checks; and attend new volunteer orientation and No Member Dies Alone information sessions. In addition, vigil volunteers will be interviewed by the program’s committee to determine fitness for this team. Sensitivity and compassion are crucial, and team members must feel reasonably comfortable interacting with those nearing death.

To learn more, contact Deanna Reames at 616-364-5331 or reamesd@michigan.gov.

The cold and flu season is upon us and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has once again teamed up with Walgreens to allow veterans currently enrolled in the VA health care system to walk into any Walgreens to receive a flu shot at no cost. Vaccinations will be available through March 31, 2018.

Veterans wishing to receive the no cost vaccination need to present a Veterans Identification Card and photo ID at any participating Walgreens to receive the vaccination. The Group ID is VAFLU.

Walgreens pharmacist will transmit vaccination information securely to the VA, where it becomes part of the patient’s electronic medical record.

The VA is committed to keeping veterans healthy, and during this flu season vaccination is the best way to prevent the spread of flu. No matter where you live, visit your local VA clinic or Walgreens to get a no-cost flu shot.  

• Find your local VA online.
• Locate a Walgreens store near you by calling 800-WALGREENs (800-925-4733) or visiting Walgreens website.

Get more information on flu and the flu vaccine by visiting the VA or CDC websites.