Our Heroes’ Stories, in Their Own Words

I got this kit in November 2017, while in RSAT (Resident Substance Abuse Treatment) at the Boise, Idaho VA Center. I was pretty much a mess prior to this; a totally worthless drunk for the last 3 years. The RSAT helped me ‘pull my head out,’ and I was finally able to see a bright future ahead.

HHV (Craft Kits) provided me with a reason to wake up and face the challenge of completing a paint-by-numbers picture, or a suncatcher you want to give your wife. Oftentimes, building the model kits inspires a competitive spirit among the (veterans) to see who can do a better job.

In 2010 I thought my life was over. I knew my marriage was over. Just like the past forty years or so of my life, I was looking for something but didn’t know what it was.

Thank you for the kit. Doing constructive things like these kits is more therapeutic for my PTSD than any medication I take

I received my new kit today and, as always, it is such a wonderful thing to know people still care about us. Every time I get a kit I send the postcard back thanking the people who are supporting the program.

I want to thank the donors for the crafts I have received at the Patriot Place. The crafts have helped me greatly with my PTSD and depression.

I followed the requirements to get started in the (Patient Home Rehabilitation) program, was accepted, and now the crafts come in the mail to my apartment.  This is awesome!

The happiness Jim has when he gives his craft to someone he loves or someone who has shown him kindness in the hospital, is just one of the many ways I see the kits helping.

We are a group of vets that makes moccasins for Vietnam era and WWII veterans in the Community Living Center (CLC) at the Bay Pines VA. We make them as a group during coffee and a meeting and then we bring them to the patients at the CLC.

Thank you all so much for the great kits you send me. As someone who is going blind, I can still accomplish them and very much enjoy the time doing so.