Assemblyman Anthony D’Urso and Vietnam Veteran Jack Hirsch recently spoke with a group of children at the Richard S. Sherman North Great Neck Middle School, as part of an effort to promote an annual Valentines for Vets program.
Mr. Hirsch, Commander of the Albertson VFW Post 5253, told the children stories about his experiences during the Vietnam War and the Assemblyman told them about how his family was able to save many Jewish people during World War II in Italy.
“This is an annual district-wide effort to show our hospitalized veterans who have served our country that they are appreciated and have not been forgotten,” D’Urso said.
For more than a decade public and parochial schools, as well as businesses, libraries, and private citizens in the community have donated personal care items, outerwear and electronics for the Valentines for Vets program. Each year the 16th AD delivers two truckloads of handmade valentines and donated items to the Long Island State Veterans Home in Stony Brook and the Northport VA Medical Center.
D’Urso said sending a valentine or donating an item a veteran can use is a great way to show appreciation for the sacrifices veterans have made.
People are encouraged to drop off items by Wednesday, Jan. 31, to the District Office located at 45 North Station Plaza, Suite 203 in Great Neck. Other drop off locations include: Great Neck Social Center located at 80 Grace Avenue, the Herricks Community Center located at 999 Herricks Road, and the Port Washington Community Chest located at 382 Main Street.
If you have any questions, please call Sandy Portnoy at his district office (516) 482-6966.
All items must be new. Suggested donations include handmade valentines, tooth brushes, tooth paste, denture adhesive, shampoo, deodorant, hair brushes, non-slip socks, winter hats, gloves, scarves, stamps, patriotic caps or t-shirts, compact discs, scratch-off lottery tickets, iTunes gift cards, wheel chair cup holders, note cards, phone cards, hand-held computer games, electric razors, clock radio/cassette players, walkmans, terry cloth robes, winter coats, universal remotes, DVDs, portable CD players, ear phones, electric toothbrushes, sweatpants, and sweatshirts.
