By BOBBIE GREEN
The Progress
A local group made some special holiday deliveries to brighten up the holidays a bit for veterans spending time recovering in area hospitals.
The group, knowns as Alcohol, Tobacco and Freedom Group, was formed recently by Assembly-woman and Mesquite resident Annie Black. The group has grown into a large organization with about 300 people on its email list and around 100 people regularly attending monthly meetings.
The group assembled earlier this month for its monthly get together in the Oasis Grill Room. Wanting to do something special for the holidays, the members filled out Christmas cards to be given out at area hospitals and nursing homes. It was intended that these notes of encouragement would provide some holiday cheer to veterans and others who are recovering from illnesses.
Assemblywoman Black provided the cards and the idea of making sure hospital patients –especially veterans and COVID patients who are in isolation over Christmas time – know that someone is thinking of them.
“We have a great group of patriots that meet every month and they love their country and the people in it,” Black said of the group. “Especially during the holidays, we all wanted to make someone’s life brighter and make them feel loved. That is what this project is all about.”
About 100 people were in attendance at the meeting to help write in the cards. The cards were to be distributed to patients’ rooms by the staff at each facility.
The cards were delivered by Black on Wednesday, December 22. They went to the Veterans Hospital in Henderson as well as the Mesa View Regional Hospital and Highland Manor in Mesquite.
Kelly Adams, CEO of Mesa View Regional Hospital, accepted the cards from Black on Wednesday and had his staff distribute them among the patients there. There were enough cards to give to patients and the duty nurses.
“This was a great idea,” said Adams during the presentation. “It was so thoughtful!”
Accepting the cards for Highland Manor was Activities Director Susan Collison. Collison expressed her thoughts in single words, “awesome, wonderful, so nice.”
Black was pleased with the project and its potential to cheer up patients with health struggles during the holidays. She said that the group had plenty more to do to help in the community.
“I am sure our group will have many more service projects to come,” she said.
For more information about the Alcohol, Tobacco and Freedom Group, visit www.ATFHappyHour.com or email annie@electannieblack.com.
