Nancy Stutman
Penny Craft, Volunteer Services Specialist for the Phoenix VA Health Care System, is the featured speaker for Jewish War Veterans Post 619 meeting on Sunday, May 18, in Sun Lakes Oakwood Country Club Recreation Center, 24218 S. Oakwood Blvd. A Meet & Greet with free lox and bagels, coffee, and doughnuts starts at 9:30 a.m. The speaker follows at 10 a.m. All are welcome.
Craft works for the Center for Development & Civic Engagement. (CDCE). She will speak about the various departments within the VA that may require items not supplied by the federal government. She enjoys working with her contacts throughout the health care system and with the various clinics to develop wish lists.
JWV has worked closely with Craft to fill several of the VA’s requests from these lists. A recent appeal was for 30 bicycles with helmets and locks for newly housed veterans who were coming off the streets and out of shelters. The Post also keeps Bereavement Carts stocked with supplies for veterans’ families attending to end of life patients.
JWV volunteers participate in VetsGiving, an annual event that Craft plans where veterans can learn about the services they’ve earned and receive free items. Additionally, this busy veteran has single-handedly expanded the week-long Salute to Veteran Patients to let these veterans know they are appreciated.
Craft is a Desert Storm combat veteran who served in the U.S. Army from 1990 to 2002. Her military specialty started out as a medic. She ended up in Special Operations as a Psychological Operations (PSYOP) soldier, which is the only military occupational skill available to women in that section. PSYOP soldiers use intelligence, cultural sensitivity, and foreign language skills to build relations with leaders and civilians. This career path prepared her for a lengthy career in public relations at the Phoenix VA where she ultimately joined Volunteer Services.
The Community Living Center (CLC), what civilians would call a nursing home, just opened in January after extensive remodeling and repairs to that portion of the medical center. Within two weeks, the CLC went from an initial count of 4 residents to 15. There will be new opportunities for both volunteers and donations to support that welcomed addition.
“I am convinced that there are organizations and individuals out there who would like to support veterans, especially those in need,” offers Craft. “It is my job to make it easy for them to either volunteer their time or donate items that will help. I’ve been a VA employee for 16 years after serving for nine years in the Army. I know how hard it can be for veterans, and I am committed to getting the support they’ve earned,” she concluded.
JWV Post 619, which meets the third Sunday of every month from September to June, boasts members who represent a wide range of religious affiliations and participate in philanthropic activities to help veterans of all faiths. To learn more about JWV activities and membership, contact Arthur Uram at 702-884-4175? or [email protected].