3/21/2023 8:54:03 AM
The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) - Fergus Falls Veterans Home is honored to accept a generous donation of $30,000 from Veterans Home R&R (Rest & Relaxation) to be used for recreational programming at its campus. A check was presented to Fergus Falls Veterans Home leadership team members on Monday, February 13, 2023.
To date, the Home’s Recreation Fund has committed to using this donation for the purchase of goods and services related to its Resident Arts program, courtyard/outdoor furniture, Stars and Stripes Parade/25th Anniversary celebration, a Touch2Play computer and other items that help Veterans engage with other Veterans and the community in which they live. This engagement, in turn, creates a strong sense of camaraderie and shared social experiences behind and beyond the Home’s doors.
Over the past year, Veterans Home R&R hosted a series of unique regional fundraising activities to benefit the Veterans Home in Fergus Falls. Some examples include a motorcycle fun run, live auction and silent auction events, Rock Your Dock pontoon gathering, a bean bag tournament, music festival and dinner with freewill offering. The homebase for the annual fun run is the Underwood Post 489 American Legion and Perham hosted the bean bag tournament and music festival.
Mitch Davis, Board of Directors President, Veterans Home R&R, noted the importance of partnering with local citizens and other supporter groups and allies to sponsor memorable programming that also delivers benefits to the Veterans Home. They do that through solicitation of one-star through five-star business sponsorships. All of their events are dedicated to providing an environment where people can gather and publicly demonstrate their commitment to serving those who have served.
The Veterans Home R&R Board of Directors includes:
For Mitch, and his wife Vi, finding ways to deliver joy and beauty to Veterans’ lives is rooted in their own personal relationships. Collectively, they have close to 30 Veterans in their immediate families. Mitch’s mother and father lived in the Fergus Falls Veterans Home; both passed in 2016. Vi worked as a certified nursing assistant there for seven-plus years.
Mitch said that he and Vi are committed to providing Veteran Residents with the best possible life. “This Home should always feel like their Home. Whether it’s something simple like going to dinner or going fishing, or participating in innovative programs, our focus is on giving these heroes the freedom to enjoy each day.”
According to Gary Harris, Jr., Development and Public Affairs - Fergus Falls Veterans Home, expanded recreational services can do everything from improving physical and emotional coping skills to increasing social abilities and communications, which promotes a higher quality of life for Residents.
Jonathan Stone, Fergus Falls Veterans Home Administrator, agreed that recreational programs combine Residents’ interests and hobbies with intentional activities that promote their independence and bolster health and wellbeing. “Donations such as this one are instrumental in helping grow our efforts in this area.”
Mitch shared that Veterans Home R&R’s goal is to develop fundraising activities to assist other State Veterans Homes, including new campuses in Preston, Bemidji and Montevideo, where Mitch has family connections. Ultimately, Veterans Home R&R is planning to support and serve Residents at all eight State Veterans Homes.
Veterans Home R&R, a non-profit organization, attracts cross-generational support and includes participants ranging from discharged Veterans to current Guard members. Learn more about this group and their broad volunteer base by visiting Facebook and searching for Veterans Home R&R or emailing them at vetshomerr@gmail.com.
