Valentines For Vets Program Seeks Donations

A local goodwill initiative is again underway to show appreciation for military veterans in the form of Valentines cards and gifts. 

Like others across the county and nation, state Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel, D-Great Neck, is seeking Valentines cards and unused gift item donations as part of an annual Valentines For Vets program.

Residents have until Feb. 8 to drop off donations to Schimel's district office, 45 N. Station Plaza, Suite 203 in Great Neck. Only Valentines cards and new gift items will be accepted.

Recomended items include: tooth brushes, toothpaste, denture adhesive, shampoo, deodorant, hair brushes, non-slip socks, winter hats, gloves, scarves, stamps, patriotic caps or t-shirts, compact discs, scratch-off lottery tickets, iTunes giftcards, wheel chair cup holders, note cards, phone cards, hand-held computer games, electric razors, clock radio/cassette players, walkmans, terry cloth robes, winter coats, universal remotes, DVDs, portable CD players, ear phones, electric toothbrushes, sweatpants and sweatshirts.

"This is a district-wide effort to show the veterans who have served our country that they are appreciated and have not been forgotten," said Schimel in a release.

Two truckloads of donations, were donated in 2012 by parochial schools, businesses, libraries, and Great Neck community residents and delivered to the Long Island State Veterans Home in Stony Brook and the Northport VA Medical Center, according to Schimel.

Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano announced that more than 20,000 valentines handmade by students across the County for hospitalized veterans were collected last year as part of Nassau's Valentines for Veterans program.

Also in 2012, the United War Veterans Council brought Valentines gifts and gratitude to veterans and military service members from West Point to Washington, D.C.