As Valentine’s Day approaches, many veterans will be hospitalized, receiving the medical care they earned through their service. No veteran should feel alone, and the VA Maryland Health Care System offers a wonderful way to demonstrate our community’s commitment to them.
During National Salute to Veteran Patients Week (Feb. 8-15, 2026), VA Center for Development & Civic Engagement (CDCE) encourages community members to continue supporting veteran inpatients at our local VA medical centers. While our 360 plus regular volunteers provide over 32,753 hours of service annually—a value of more than $1.1 million—we always appreciate more help to foster a healing environment.
It takes some time for potential volunteers to be fully onboarded to the VA health care system, so if you are interested in volunteering, I encourage you to start the onboarding process as soon as possible. However, if you lack the time due to other commitments, donations are another vital way to help.
As a federal agency, VA receives a congressionally appropriated budget which pays for the day-to-day operations of VA health care and medical needs of patients. To meet other needs, we rely on charitable donations to pay supplemental expenses outside the scope of the VA budget. Several donated fund accounts have been established to support those supplemental needs for veteran patients, that include comfort items, clothing, items desperately needed by veterans experiencing homelessness whom we are assisting in their transition to a healthier path, and more. Donated funds also enable us to provide gifts given to women veterans who are pregnant or new mothers during the annual baby shower, and personal care items like slippers, shaving cream, and shampoo, or extra clothes to patients during an unexpected hospital stay. Our goal is to provide whatever is necessary so that all veteran patients can feel safe in a healing environment.
Because 100 percent of donations go directly to support veterans' needs, your contribution makes a direct impact. National Salute to Veteran Patients Week gives community members an opportunity to get involved by donating to the VA Maryland Health Care System. Generous support from readers like you help us provide enhanced services to our patients. For more information on how you can get involved, visit https://www.va.gov/maryland-health-care/work-with-us/volunteer-or-donate/#make-a-donation. We look forward to your joining us however you can to ensure veteran patients feel honored and supported.
Sincerely,
Jonathan R. Eckman, P.E.
Director, VA Maryland Health Care System
— Mr. Eckman was appointed as the Director of the VA Maryland Health Care System in December 2020 and is responsible for the management and oversite of three medical centers and five community-based outpatient clinics located throughout the state.
