Veterans Affairs Voluntary Services

The Marine Corps League supports the Veterans Affairs Voluntary Services (VAVS) organization for VA Hospital assistance. If a VA Hospital is within reasonable distance of the Detachment, the National VAVS coordinator can assign members of the Detachment to primary and deputy representation on the VAVS committee of that hospital. The VAVS committee is composed of veterans organizations and others. The primary goal is to spend time at the Hospitals on visitation, planning and coordinating events (i.e., bingo, games, reading), and soliciting donations for funds or items needed by occupants of the Hospital. These items may include books/magazines, and clothing and toiletry items, or other items determined by the hospital staff. A VAVS officer for the detachment should be responsible for the coordinating events with Detachment members, and planning donation activities.

A Detachment may also serve veterans and VA Hospitals if participating in VAVS program is not practical. The Veterans Service Officer (VSO) can take responsibility for soliciting donations of funds and/or items to send to a VA Hospital, or to a veterans establishment in the local area. In addition, a VSO can be available to veterans in providing direction (it is important not to provide advice or counsel) to various veteran assistance programs which include the Veterans Administration, state Veterans Service, County Service Officers, veterans organizations and others.

The volunteer demographics are changing. In the past, most volunteers were retired senior citizens but today most of the new volunteers tend to be younger, with a full-time job, and have young children. To accomodate these new volunteers, VAVS have volunteer positions that are outside of the nine-to-five work schedules. Some volunteer positions can even be performed from home.

To volunteer see your detachment VAVS Representative or Deputy.