Lehigh Valley Woman Organizes Gift Drive to Benefit Veterans at Coatesville VA Medical Center

By

Andrea Feher

Andrea Feher, 39, a resident of Hellertown in the Lehigh Valley, organized a gift drive over Facebook and collected more than 100 gifts for veterans of the Coatesville VA Medical Center.

She delivered the gifts during a luncheon last week.

David Haring

Veterans living in the VA’s Community Living Center and Hospice units gathered for a holiday meal donated by Wegmans and received the gifts.

“This was great,” said David Haring, an Army veteran and resident of the CLC. “I wasn’t expecting to get anything at all.”

Feher worked closely with Wanda Brown, a recreational therapist in the CLC, to find out what the 72 veterans want to receive this holiday season.

“Andrea is incredible,” said Brown. “It’s not just about activities. It’s about creating an environment, creating a special space, making them feel as ‘homey’ as possible. She brings love into the environment, and that is an important element for me.”

Feher reached out to her network for the blankets, jackets, scarves, gift cards, and personal care items the veterans requested. When Feher posted the list of gifts on her community’s Facebook page, she was amazed by the response.

“This community was so receptive,” she said, “and like me, they were looking for an opportunity to give.”

Feher posted a second list to a community Facebook page in Doylestown, and that was quickly filled.

“The generosity of the 85 people who responded to my Facebook posts, who fulfilled these wish list items made this happen,” she said. “That includes the Blue Star Mothers (of America’s Lehigh Valley Chapter) who called up and donated 70 personal care kits.”

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