April 2025
Michigan Veteran Homes is different and better for a many reasons. One key reason MVH is able to do more for Michigan veterans is the remarkably selfless generosity of those who support our mission, and our members. A recent example of that humbling generosity is reflected in our friends at Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Chapter 14, out of Holland, MI. DAV Chapter 14 recently stopped by each of our Homes in Grand Rapids, Chesterfield Twp, and Marquette, to drop off checks for the Homes' Charitable Support Fund. Since November - in just five months - Chapter 14 has donated more than $60,000 to MVH. Those dollars - like all donated dollars to MVH - are deposited in the Charitable Support Fund and fund the activities, equipment, and programs that benefit our members' lives.
"Thank you" fails to adequately express the immense gratitude we have for our friends at DAV Chapter 14, and the seemingly countless others who support our work. Thank you, nonetheless. Like us, they believe that veterans at MVH deserve the best care and quality of life our nation has to offer. Afterall, they stood to defend it.
Community makes all the difference. And we're grateful for ours. On June 7th, 2025, our veterans, their families, staff, and the volunteers of MVH at Chesterfield Township will join together with the broader community for their Walk, Run, & Roll event, benefitting the veterans of the home. This annual event for people of all abilities brings together community for a morning of camaraderie, exercise, and celebrating service. It starts with 1/2-Mile Remembrance Walk/Roll, followed by a 5k walk/run/roll. The event is even joined by our friends from the Agape Project who provide 'chariots' for some of the runners to push some of MVH's veterans for the entirety of the 5k. The morning concludes with a hot dog lunch.
Please consider walking, running, rolling, volunteering, sponsoring, or donating to the event. All proceeds are deposited in the home's Charitable Support Fund - separate from operational funds - benefitting members of the home.
Michigan Veteran Homes are part of a network of more than 170 state veterans homes throughout the nation. In fact, every state - as well as the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico - has at least one state veterans home.
Thus, it's no surprise that the United States Congress takes interest in the work - and impact - of state veterans homes. Recently, Congresswoman Jen Kiggans, Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick, and Congresswoman Sheri Biggs teamed up to introduce the bipartisan H.R. 785 - the Representing Our Seniors at VA Act of 2025. The bill seeks to elevate the voice of state veterans homes by including a representative of the National Assoc. of State Veterans Homes on the Geriatrics and Gerontology Advisory Committee of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, which advises the VA Secretary on matters related to geriatrics and gerontology.
Additionally, Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Congressman Chris Pappas teamed up to introduce the bipartisan H.R. 1970, which aims to amend the reimbursement methodology of the federal VA for certain high-cost medications, allowing state veterans homes to be reimbursed for such high-cost medications - reimbursement that would otherwise occur if the veteran were in a community nursing home. In March, the National Assoc. of State Veterans Homes was invited to testify on H.R. 1970 before the House Veterans Affairs Committee's Subcommittee on Health, sharing the detrimental impact high-cost medications can have on state veterans homes, and on the importance of appropriate reimbursement methodologies.
The state veterans homes program is making a positive impact on veteran lives at MVH here in Michigan, as well as at other homes across the nation, and we're grateful for the opportunity to keep interested community members informed and connected to our mission.
Our Homes, and the hundreds of veterans that call them 'home,' are part of the broader communities in which we reside. You'll find us at Tigers games in Detroit, Griffins games in Grand Rapids, and Wildcats hockey games in Marquette. You'll find us at lots of other events and places in our communities, too.
We invite you - our communities - to join us, as well. Each of our homes has events throughout the year that strive to connect our mission and veterans with the generous communities in which we reside.
-
May 21: Cemetery Flag Placement in Grand Rapids: Join Scouts of America and members of the community in placing flags at the headstones of thousands of veterans who make our cemetery their final resting place.
-
June 7: 4th Annual 5k Walk, Run & Roll at Chesterfield: Join our home, staff, volunteers, family, and community for a morning of camaraderie, exercise, fun, and celebrating service.
- June 14: Pancake Breakfast at the Jacobetti: We're cooking pancakes, and raising funds for our Charitable Support Fund. It's going to be fun.
-
July 16: Nathan Koski Memorial Classic Car Show at the Jacobetti: the annual event brings community to our veterans for a great show, and some reminiscing, while honoring our late friend Nathan Koski.
You can learn more - or contact us - at our events page. We hope to see you soon!
We hope the above collage tells at least some of the story. Thanks to our incredible staff, volunteers, and community of supporters, March was wonderful for veterans at MVH. There was art therapy and movement. Painting classes. Yoga. Music. Performances. Cookies. Coffee. Storytelling. Trivia. Gifts. Dance parties. Bagpipes. Leprechauns. Shamrock shakes. Model Airplanes. And more.
And joy. Lots, and lots, and lots of joy.
The quality of life and experience at MVH is perhaps well summarized in remarks from the son of one of our veterans: "Dad was slowing down, and he needed help. He was never getting outside, or socializing. We knew getting him to the Veterans Home would be good. We figured at least he'd be somewhere safe. What we didn't know or expect was how his life would turn around for the better. Now that he's at MVH, one day he's at the movies, and the next he's at trivia. He's taken up painting. We stopped by to visit recently, and we missed him because he was out shopping with friends from the home. He told us we should've called ahead, because he has a lot of stuff he's involved in, and that he's a 'busy man'. This is the same guy that wouldn't leave the house! This is the best thing that could've happened to Dad. Now that he's there, his social life is busier than ours!"
If you're reading this, there's a good chance you're connected to one or more of our Homes. That said, we want all veterans, families, and Michiganders to be able to stay informed, and connect with our mission. Sometimes, one of the greatest gifts to be given is testimony. We encourage you to follow us on social media, and to share this newsletter with others. We humbly ask you share our work, and our mission, with your network. Michiganders deserve to know about the care and quality of life being provided to veterans at our Homes, and how important our mission is. And you can be that voice. Ensuring excellent care and quality of life for those who've served our nation, is all of our business. Thank you for your support!
Michigan Veteran Homes' niche - in the vast array of serving veterans - is providing skilled nursing care and exceptional quality of life to members at MVH. That said, we know there are a lot of other organizations and missions that serve veterans as well.
A few years back, our colleagues at the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency started hosting an annual Veterans Leadership Summit, in an effort to bring together leaders of and in veteran-serving organizations from the government, nonprofit, and private sectors, as an opportunity to learn from one another, network, and grow. It's been in Lansing, Traverse City, and Detroit. And now this spring, you can join leaders in the veteran space in Marquette on May 19-21, 2025 at Northern Michigan University, for the 2025 Michigan Veterans Leadership Summit. MVH will be in town as well, preparing to break ground on the new MVH D.J. Jacobetti.
We hope to see you there, eh?
Donations to Michigan Veteran Homes are tax-deductible under 170(c) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Michigan Veteran Homes are making a difference in the lives of Michigan veterans and their loved ones. Join us.
Want to learn more about participating in the representative democracy our veterans stood to protect? Visit the Michigan Voter Information Center.
|
