More than 200 veterans at the Veterans Home of California, Barstow will be surprised with lap blankets and a gift bag filled with toiletries.
According to Rosalie Ulloa-Reed, the Hi-Desert Republican Women, a local affiliate of the California Federation of Republican Women and the National Federation of Republican Women, will be donating the gift bags as part of their annual appreciation of local veterans.
Ulloa-Reed has been with the organization since 2006 and said they visit the Veterans Home several times a year and have projects that benefit Operation Gratitude and the Wounded Warriors Project. The organization holds meeting on the fourth Tuesday of every month at the Spring Valley Lake Country Club.
While the Hi-Desert Republican Women have given veterans gift bags that include toothpaste, toothbrushes, lotions, shampoos and even snacks, Ulloa-Reed said blankets haven’t previously been part of the bags.
“Someone at the Veterans Home suggested giving the veterans blankets,” she said. “I thought it was a great idea so at our following meeting I mentioned it and it was a hit. Over 35 women contributed either money, time or materials to make the tie blankets.”
Ulloa-Reed said members from the organization met at her house once a month and before she knew it, there were over 200 blankets ready to be delivered Monday.
“I knew it would take quite some time to be able to tie together so many blankets,” Ulloa-Reed said. “But it’s worked out because our ladies are amazing and they sure came through. It was pretty slow at first, we didn’t even have 150 blankets and all of a sudden there were over 200 blankets. I definitely appreciate all the women because they contributed so much and I know the veterans in Barstow will appreciate having these neat lap blankets.”
Ulloa-Reed said the Victor Valley-based organization plans on being in Barstow by 10 a.m., where they will distribute the bags and mingle with some of the veterans in a reserved room. Ulloa-Reed said the women will also be taking snacks for the veterans.
She feels it’s important to show veterans appreciation, not just once a month but on a daily basis.
“These men and women donated their time and some even their lives; this should be very important to all of us,” Ulloa-Reed said.
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