Christmas Eve Collection for Lyons Veterans Exceeds Goal

Bedminster resident Stacia McDonough spent the weeks before Christmas collecting as many scarves, hats, gloves and other warm gifts for her second annual "They Kept Us Safe, Let's Keep Them Warm" collection. She delivered the items on Dec. 24 to previously homeless veterans living at the Veterans Administration campus in the Lyons section of Basking Ridge.

McDonough reported this year's collection had been a "tremendous success."

She said he had exceeded her goal of collecting 167 items for each veteran housed at the Veterans Administration of the New Jersey Health Care system off Valley Road in Basking Ridge.

For the first year, the gifts went to veterans living in Hope For Veterans housing at the VA, she said. This year, McDonough said she added to the list the residents in a new permanent housing development opened at the Lyons campus this year as the nation's first brand-new housing for formerly homeless veterans.
 
"The outpouring of support from our community has been heartwarming," McDonough said after Christmas. "Their kindness, generosity and compassion are appreciated more than they'll ever know."

McDonough said she arrived at 10 a.m. on Christmas Eve morning to deliver the wrapped gifts "to our amazing veterans. It was an honor and a privilege for me to spent part of Christmas Eve with them.'

McDonough said she conducts the annual drive in loving memory of her late husband John, who was a Vietnam veteran sergeant and, "an awesome human being."

She added, "Mere words could never express the immense amount of respect I have for these brave servicemen and women."

Collecting new blankets and DVDs for veterans

McDonough said she still need are need of support and assistance. She said she is collecting new blankets, and will continue to do so throughout the year. The size needed is twin, and she said 167 blankets are required.

She also said she is collecting DVDs for the recreation room at the facility.

Anyone who wishes to make donations can e-mail McDonough at: info@nevadolls.com, call her directly at 908-470-1930.

McDonough said the "They Kept us Safe, Let's Keep Them Warm" collection for "wounded warriors" who may be trying to recover from such issues as post traumatic stress syndrome and brain injuries.