The Saturday Service Project is sponsored proudly by:
WARRIOR AND FAMILY SUPPORT CENTER: ASLRRA VOLUNTEER SERVICE PROJECT Saturday, April 30; 9:30am - 4:30pm; $35 per person
ASLRRA's members have participated in volunteer service projects at ASLRRA meetings for several years now. This year we are teaming with the Warrior and Family Service Center in Fort Sam Houston, which is housed in the Returning Heroes Home Facility. To view a video about these two wonderful organizations, please click here.
As the Global War on Terrorism continues, seriously injured Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines are evacuated from the theater of operations to major medical facilities located on military installations. Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) in San Antonio, is one of the best trauma centers and many of these Wounded Warriors receive their medical care there. Due to the seriousness of their injuries, they remain at BAMC for an extended period of time which, in many cases, can exceed 12 months.
BAMC physicians noticed a need for family members to be intimately involved in the rehabilitation of their sons, daughters, or spouses, and that a vital part of their recovery meant a need to have a "safe" environment away from the hospital and the WFSC was created. The WFSC provides coordinated services to patients, next-of-kin and extended family members. It provides a friendly, comfortable environment in which to receive emotional support and answers to questions, take a break, watch a movie on big-screen TV's, play video games, check email or use the Internet, select a book or magazine to read, make a phone call or just grab a cup of coffee. The facility also extends their rehabilitation away from the hospital by learning to cope with war related disabilities as individuals, as couples and as families. The WFSC schedules over 48 activities every month with opportunities to attend sporting events, movie night, plays at the Majestic Theatre, concerts, fiesta, shopping trips, luncheons and dinners, bingo, fishing trips and more. All events and trips are free of charge and paid for by donations and volunteers.
ASLRRA's service project will entail working in the therapy garden, helping to weed and plant and maintain the facility. The mission of the WFSC is only possible with the generous and caring hearts of others. Attendees are encouraged to make the time to experience a day of service. Join with other railroad industry employees and support the WFSC's mission in a unique and meaningful way. You will be inspired and renewed - working together for a great cause and in turn, the families will continue to enjoy the services provided by the Warrior and Family Support Center in the Returning Heroes Home facility. Projects include, but are not limited to major landscaping, gardening, painting, major clean-up of property, deep cleans of public areas, and more. Scope of work will be determined based upon the number of volunteers we are able to gather, availability, and skill set. The $35 fee covers your transportation to the work site, lunch, break refreshments, work T-shirt, all of the supplies needed to conduct our work, and other miscellaneous costs that the WFSC will incur while hosting our group.
