The Eugene F. Roberts Chapter 152, local chapter (National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association) has chosen a Christmas Project for Christmas 2008. The local chapter represents counties of McMinn, Meigs, Monroe, Polk, Loudon and part of Blount County. We would like to send supplies to the James H. Quillen VA Medical Center, Community Living Center (formerly Nursing Home) in Johnson City, TN. This facility is similar to a nursing home for older Veterans, both men and women, who have no place to go. All are in need of personal items.

Last year we got such a wonderful response from the public helping us with our Christmas project which was sending over 2500 phone cards and Christmas cards to the Veterans in Walter Reed Hospital. The Veterans were so appreciative and the phone cards allowed many of them to make a phone call on Christmas day to love ones back home.

The Veterans home is also a wonderful place for us to contribute as a Christmas project. We ask you, if you could help us make their Christmas a wonderful time this year. Many of the Veterans have no one to help take care of them, many are WWII, and Korean Veterans as well as Vietnam and some could be Veterans from the more recent wars. Most all are in need of help. You will be helping approximately 450 current or former service men and women.

Some suggestions the Veterans are in need of (the list comes from the office of Voluntary Service, Chief, Ann Drown) would be: phone cards, lap robes, slippers or slipper socks, hygiene items (toothbrushes, toothpaste, combs, finger nail clippers). The Veterans are also in need of light-weight jackets and new clothing. Anything that you may need, they need.

Anyone wishing to donate money for the purchase of any item may do so by making your check payable to NARFE. All gifts go to the Veterans. Our local chapter of NARFE will deliver all gifts free of charge along with cake and snack food the 2nd week of December. You can tell us how to use your gifts such as phone cards in $5 or $10 amounts or we can buy airline blankets (lap robes) in case lots of 40 per case for $148.00 and NARFE will pay all shipping charges. Perhaps someone knows the owner of a clothing company that would like to donate clothes or shoes, light weight jackets or sweats. You may also visit us at our NARFE meeting at the Western Sizzlin Steak House, Decatur Pike, Athens, TN the first Wednesday of each month at 12 noon. For pick up of gifts or more information or a full list of items needed, you may contact: Paul McMillan, Chaplain, 206 Cawana St. Athens, TN 37303 423/745-6483 or E-mail: pm37303@comcast.net. Or any member of the Athens chapter of NARFE.