An organization whose mission of “Veterans helping Veterans,” is looking to assemble gift packages for about 50 Cass County Veterans who reside in county care facilities.

Ben Batholomew

Cass County Deputy Ben Bartholomew says the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association (CVMA) is asking for the public to help them put together gift packages to deliver to Cass County Veterans residing in the five assisted living facilities in Cass County.

Bartholomew says the goal of their program is reaching out to veterans to provide them with whatever they may need.

(Some of the items veterans in a care facility may need and enjoy include: a package of socks; T-shirts or a package of white T-shirts; Cologne; Soaps and body wash [Old Spice is a popular item]; Crossword puzzles, word search puzzles and other activities to keep the mind active; and decks of cards.)

Deputy Bartholomew, of Atlantic, is a Marine Corps Veteran and a three-year member of the nationwide CVMA.

He says “The CVMA is an organization of all [combat] veterans who ride motorcycles.”

(He said they help with financial issues from time-to-time, but most often it’s spending time with veterans, especially those who are elderly and/or need help with PTSD [Post Traumatic Stress Disorder]. Bartholomew says 22 veterans each day commit suicide due to PTSD and other issues. CVMA members respond to their needs, by talking with vets 24/7, in hopes those numbers can be reduced.)

Veterans, he said, are more willing to open-up to fellow service members about their experiences than they are family members.

Anyone wishing to contribute new items for Veterans’ gift packages, can drop them off in specially marked boxes located in Cass County, at: the Atlantic Hy Vee;Olsens BP in Atlantic; The Tiger Mart in Griswold, and Casey’s General Store in Anita. Those items will be collected between now and a few days after Thanksgiving, while you’re conducting your “Black Friday” shopping, and the days after. They’ll gather all the items afterward and begin to assemble the gift packages the first week of December, with delivery through Cass County soon thereafter.