To benefit the future needs of veterans, Patrick “Pat” Matthews and his wife, Leona, both of Carney, recently presented a donation to the Dickinson Area Community Foundation to establish the Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center Veterans Assistance Program Agency Fund. From left are Dickinson Area Community Foundation Executive Director Tamara Juul, Matthews and Katie Maxon, chief of Public Affairs, Veterans Experience and Voluntary Service at the VA medical center in Iron Mountain. The community is encouraged to contribute to the fund.

IRON MOUNTAIN — A new endowment fund has been established through the Dickinson Area Community Foundation to benefit the future needs of local veterans.

Patrick “Pat” Matthews and his wife, Leona, both of Carney, made the donation to create the Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center Veterans Assistance Program Agency Fund.

After two years, the interest earned from the new agency endowed fund will provide annual financial support to the Iron Mountain VA’s Voluntary Service, which will be the steward of donations.

Voluntary Service works directly with staff to determine veteran needs and helps to address them.

“Our program fills gaps and provides services or items to veterans that go beyond their physical and mental health care and impacts their quality of life,” said Katie Maxon, chief of Public Affairs, Veterans Experience and Voluntary Service at the VA center.

What’s important is that contributions to the fund stay at the Iron Mountain facility, to be used specifically for local veterans, said Tamara Juul, DACF executive director.

With donations made to the department, they are able to provide assistance in many ways, from something as simple as lip balm to large purchases that could help a homeless veteran stock a new home.

“It’s focused on the special things that normally wouldn’t be available to veterans,” Matthews said. “It makes their lives more enjoyable.”

“This can truly change the life of a veteran, who are very close to all of our hearts — they are the reason we are all here,” Juul added.

Matthews is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served from 1966 until he was wounded in action in 1967 in Vietnam.

“Joining the service is one of the things that I’m the most proud of,” he said.

Matthews has used the local VAMC facility since returning to the area in 1968 and has been very pleased with the level of care and treatment.

“The doctors, nurses, staff, and volunteers are special people and are really good at what they do. More importantly, they care about us veterans,” he said.

Over the years, Matthews became familiar with the work that Voluntary Service does for its veterans.

After his military service, Matthews had a long career with Wells Fargo Wealth Management in Iron Mountain.

“My wife and I have been supporting that program at the VA for some time now,” he said. “We wanted to do something that would live on past our lifetime.”

Those who served or are serving hold a special place in their hearts, Matthews explained. “They are unique people — they are willing to give the ultimate sacrifice,” he said. “I have a special kinship for veterans. They are like my extended family.”

“It’s a pleasure to work with a donor that has a vision for where he wants to make a difference in our community,” Juul said.

With the endowment now established, the community will be able to make contributions to assist with its growth.

The minimum amount to establish an DACF endowment fund is $15,000, with no cap, and once established, funds can be added at any time, Juul said.

Those wishing to donate can go to the DACF website at https://www.dickinsonareacommunityfoundation.org/donate. Any monetary level donation is welcome.

“Every dollar matters, because it is invested for the future,” Juul said. “I can’t imagine where it will be in 10 or 20 years.”

The Oscar G. Johnson VAMC Veterans Assistance Program Agency Fund will also be included in their annual DACF gift letters.

Juul believes the fund will draw a good response from the community, as it will open up a new avenue for those who support veterans.

“The community is fortunate to have the community foundation, where people can contribute in one place — it’s really nice,” Matthews said.

Maxon said that a gift of this nature is immeasurable. “While we have many devoted service organizations and individual donors who consistently support our veterans, with this endowment fund it assures there is future support forever, provides a sense of security and comfort that we’ve never had and are overwhelmed and grateful to now rely on,” she said.

Terri Castelaz can be reached at 906-774-2772, ext. 241, or tcastelaz@ironmountaindailynews.com.

Donations to VA office help

to cover wide range of needs

IRON MOUNTAIN — Donations to the Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center’s Voluntary Service office — in Room 5205 on the fifth floor of the VA — enable the department to cover a wide range of veteran’s needs. They include:

— Purchasing gift cards for food, gas or personal items, including hygiene, household, etc., that fill in the gaps for a veteran during hard times;

— Funding activities, outings, events, special meals and entertainment for residents in the Community Living Center;

— Purchasing puzzles, books, games, outdoor activities, a shuffleboard table and more for veteran recreation in the Community Living Center;

— Purchasing electronic reclining lift chairs for the rooms in the Community Living Center and Inpatient Unit to create a more home-like atmosphere for patients;

— Celebrating holidays with gifts, meals, flowers or special tokens for inpatients and outpatients to recognize and honor their service;

— Providing last wishes and special meals or parties to hospice patients and their families;

— Supplying and stocking bereavement carts with snacks, small meals, tissues, beverages and comfort items for families visiting with hospice patients;

— Purchasing items for recently homeless veterans to help them stock a new home;

— Helping welcome veterans and their guests with coffee, cookies and conversation at the volunteer Coffee Station;

— Offering support and resources to veteran caregivers who are helping to care for veterans in their homes;

— Supporting veterans in attending adaptive sports clinics to learn how to golf, ski or participate in sports after an amputation or surgery;

— Providing “welcome baby” gifts — diaper bags, bottles, pacifiers, thermometers, nail clippers, wipes, diapers — to expecting female veterans;

— Supporting the Suicide Prevention team in purchasing items that reduce access to lethal means — trigger locks, gun boxes, locking canvas bags — and promote outreach to the community to educate on how to help a veteran in crisis (call 988 +1).