By Daily Press staff
The Santa Monica Elks are having a special clothing drive for the veterans at the VA Hospital in Westwood.
In addition to veterans with illnesses and/or injuries, there are those that suffer from the emotional trauma of their service. Many of them were part of the homeless population and had alcohol problems or drug addiction. When they are admitted, their clothes are immediately incinerated. Then it is pajama and hospital gowns. The only source of clothes are the donations from the community.
“The closets are bare,” said Robbie Robinson, an Elks’ past exalted ruler and chairman of veterans affairs, after a recent visit to the VA.“Small, medium or large, men or women, there is none.”
If people have clothing that was last year’s style or no longer fits, they are asked to deliver it to the Santa Monica Elks Lodge at 1040 Pico Blvd. before Aug. 15. If people need help in transporting, call Curt Curtiss (310) 645-8989.
If you wish to donate money for underwear, make a check out to S. M. Elks Lodge with the notation “for VA hospital clothing” and mail to the lodge at the above address, Santa Monica, 90405. Model behavior can be catching
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on August 3, 2006. Read the original PDF.