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 The
Department of Veterans Affairs Voluntary
Service (VAVS) has provided over 58 years
of service to America’s veterans
seeking care in VA health care facilities.
Since 1946, VAVS volunteers have donated
663.5 million hours of service.
VAVS is
the largest volunteer program in the Federal
government. More than 350 national and
community organizations support VAVS. The
program is supported by a VAVS National
Advisory Committee, composed of 63 major
veteran, civic and service organizations,
which reports to the Under Secretary for
Health.
As VA has expanded its care of
veteran patients into the community, volunteers
have become involved. They assist veteran
patients by augmenting staff in such settings
as hospital wards, nursing homes, community-based
volunteer programs, end-of-life care programs,
foster care and veterans outreach centers.
 Monetary
estimates aside, it is impossible to
calculate the amount of caring and sharing
that these VAVS volunteers provide to veteran
patients. VAVS volunteers are a priceless
asset to the Nation’s veterans and
to the Department of Veterans Affairs.
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