Project Comfort' offers support for recovering veterans
Written by Tera deVroede

Sunday, 14 February 2010


Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2015 Ladies Auxiliary Chaplain Lisa Dye-Deppe (left) and Susan Fil show off one of the quilts given to recovering veterans through “Project Comfort.” Courtesy photo.

LAKE COUNTY – A group of local women who have a heart for veterans are offering support for men and women recovering from brain injuries suffered while serving in the military overseas.

“Project Comfort,” an effort of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2015 Ladies Auxiliary, began three years ago.

As part of its mission, Project Comfort delivers cookies and quilts – both handmade quilts and those that are purchased – on a monthly basis to the Palo Alto Veteran’s Affairs (VA) Hospital.

Project Comfort was started by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2015 Ladies Auxiliary Chaplain Lisa Dye-Deppe and Susan Fil, who had a history of delivering goodies to VA Palo Alto.

Deppe met Fil during their “Treats for Troops” campaign and Fil asked if they had anyone interested in making quilts, too.

Project Comfort aims to show community support for the well-being of soldiers suffering from a variety of brain injuries, said the Palo Alto VA Hospital's Chief of Voluntary Services Bill Ball.

“The community has been very generous, extending to them an open arm with the comforts of home,” said Ball. “The women from Lake County’s Ladies Auxiliary are a great bunch of people who give these in-kind gifts.”

Ball oversees the use of monetary donations and designates them for things like a patients' families' housing costs, rental cars, daycare and even long-distance travel expenses.

“Many of these young families are not yet financially stable. We have gone above and beyond to help everyone through the healing process,” said Ball.

VA Palo Alto is one of only four polytrauma centers in the entire nation. Usually injured military personnel have had extended visits at other hospitals before they are diagnosed with serious brain trauma and get transported to this center, said Ball.

The women of the Ladies Auxiliary really come through for the injured veterans, even though many of them can barely afford the materials, said Fil.

The brain-injured veterans come from all over, but mostly from Afghanistan and Iraq – wherever the fighting is heaviest, said Fil. They are sent to Palo Alto for state-of-the-art care.

“The center a patient goes to normally depends on where they were stationed, but sometimes it can be arranged with families to be closer to them,” said Ball.

Fil explained that the hospital is kept cool to help fight infection, which makes the quilts just that much more important.

“Many of the quilts are red, white and blue, but there’s also crochet work and fleece,” she said.

One quilt, made by Lisa’s grandmother, was so beautiful that it is now hanging on the wall as a decoration in the hospital, she said.

“I personally meet with all of the families and what they go through is very draining – having to get that phone call, reach the bedside and relocate hospitals with their loved ones,” said Ball. “Just to get a nice little thing like a quilt from a caring person they don’t even know, can make them feel a bit better.”

Fil has a special connection with veterans since her son is Major General Joseph Fil Jr. At the time Project Comfort began he was commander of the 1st Calvary Division at Camp Liberty in Iraq.

Currently, he is commander of the Eighth United States Army and Chief of Staff of the United States forces in Korea.

He has served three tours abroad but never let beautiful Clearlake slip from his thoughts.

“Whenever he is deployed and away from home, he thinks about Clearlake to help him fall asleep,” said his mother.

Joseph Fil’s wife, Wendy, volunteered at Brooke Military Hospital in San Antonio while he was abroad.

Wendy Fil asked her mother-in-law to do whatever she could to help veterans at the local hospital and that is how she began delivering goodies to patients.

“You get past looking at the damage and see the wonderful person,” said Susan Fil. “Meeting their parents has also been a great joy for me."

Her husband, Joseph Fil, said, “I’ve met some of the soldiers and they are inspiring. One time at the VA in Palo Alto, our good governor showed up and rewarded men waking from their comas with Purple Hearts.”

On average, Project Comfort delivers 15 to 20 quilts to patients every month. All help is readily accepted so people who are interested in making or donating a quilt should visit their Web site, www.vfwpost2015.com/auxiliary.html .

Project Comfort is one of many things the women of VFW does to help local and surrounding communities.

According to their Web site, the 2.6 million members nationwide have contributed 13 million hours of volunteerism in their communities, including participation in Make a Difference Day and National Volunteer Week. Also, every year the VFW provides $2.5 million in college scholarships for high school students.

The group welcomes donations of time and effort. To meet them face to face, drop in to one of their monthly potlucks, which are open to all, and take place the second Monday of each month.

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