In remembrance of Memorial Day, three women of the Bonny Kate DAR Knoxville, TN continued the tradition of gift giving to the veteran clients of the McNabb Center. They came to the Military Services location on May 30th to drop off “thirty one-derful” rainy day bags as explained by DAR Member Eve Thomas to share their love of our country and to those who have served it.
“We do this so that we show them that they are thought of,” said Margaret Scobey who led the event within the Samuel Frazier Chapter. Each colored bag was filled with an umbrella, a card game, dominoes, puzzle books, a paperback novel and notebooks. Lawana Teasley, residential military services supervisor, met Eve Thomas, Margaret Scobey and Anne Haston at one of three McNabb residences for veterans to hand off the donations.
Sixty members financially contributed to the service project which has continued for its third year. “When we pull together as a collective, we are able to do more,” remarked Eve Thomas who spoke of another twelve chapter members who filled the bags.
The DAR Chapter chose to support this McNabb service because “years ago a news anchor named John Becker spoke to a large group of DAR women, and when we asked what some of the largest needs are for veterans in our in the community, he said mental health support,” Scobey clarified. Members soon came to discover McNabb’s military service program which raised their awareness of veterans struggling with mental health challenges.
Service projects are part of their repertoire. An act of service is done every month by DAR for a different agency or charity in mind while promoting historic preservation, education, and patriotism. “We have a long tradition of serving Ben Atchley and supporting veteran organizations throughout the community.” Besides helping Military Services, this chapter places flags on graves for Memorial Day and Veterans Day, and assists in welcome events for naturalization citizens to name just a few.
The McNabb Center’s Military Services, located at 3712 Middlebrook Pike, helps clients and their families regardless of their discharge status or income by providing free evaluations, community resources, illness education, counseling and more. The donation delivery took place at the Military Services building which served more than 1,000 veterans and their family members last year.
