Just in case you’re not totally inspired to commit some time over at the Washington DC VA Medical Center, the fabulous young lady below is the oh-so amazing Ms. Alyce Dixon, WWII veteran and Center resident. Learn more about her amazing story and her secrets to longevity (did we mention she’s 104 years young?) at the USO’s On Patrol Magazine or the Washington Post. Spoiler alert: “If you share, you feel good.” and you’ve definitely “got to laugh.”

Honor Veterans’ Service with Your Own: Volunteer at the Washington DC VA Medical Center

Located in the nation’s capital, only a short distance from the historic buildings that house today’s leaders and commemorate yesterday’s, the Washington DC Veterans Affairs Medical Center is one of the most visible and dynamic facilities in the VA system. This tertiary care teaching facility provides acute general and specialized services in medicine, surgery, neurology and psychiatry, as well offering nursing home care unit treatment. The medical center also oversees a satellite Substance Abuse Clinic and three Vet Centers.

The medical center’s staff of 1,700 provides care to veterans residing in the District of Columbia and portions of Virginia and Maryland. The medical center treats over 50,000 veterans and has over 500,000 outpatient visits each year.

Believe us, this place does some amazing work for some of the most amazing people we’ve had the privilege of meeting, and while much of that is the result of the Medical Center’s incredible, hard-working staff, it is also thanks in part to a cadre of dedicated volunteers.

The DC VA Medical Center has tons of volunteer opportunities, and would also love to hear about any special skills or expertise you may have that would benefit their patients. Learn more about their various available opportunities or fill out a volunteer application here. And even if you don’t have the time to go over there and  hang out with the residents, first of all, you are definitely missing out, but don’t worry, you can always show your support by hosting a donation drive to benefit DC VA Medical Center residents. Learn more about donating to the Center here or contact the Voluntary Services Office for more information. Trust me though, you should definitely make the effort to drop off the items in person :)