AUSA’s Charleston Chapter adopts veterans medical center
AUSA’s Charleston Chapter adopts veterans medical center
AUSA’s Charleston S.C. Chapter has adopted the Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Administration (RHJVA) Medical Center in Charleston and several local and statewide Army Reserve and Army National Guard units.The chapter’s number one mission is helping wounded, ill, injured and needy troops from all branches of the U.S. military, as well as disabled vets and their families.Through sponsoring a jersey auction fundraiser, the chapter’s vice president for veteran affairs, Larry Dandridge, worked with the Palmetto Chapter of Women In Defense (WID) and the Charleston River Dogs minor league baseball team to raise money for the medical center’s patients and their families.The auction, held on Sept. 1, 2011, is expected to raise funds that will be used, among other things, to buy U.S. newspapers for each clinic and inpatient.The medical center serves over 54,000 patients in the lower part of South Carolina and parts of Georgia and North Carolina.The chapter has donated over $10,000 to the medical center over the past six years, and has also raised over $30,000 to be used as grants for soldiers, marines, sailors, coast guardsmen, airmen and veterans.The chapter also helps troops and vets write resumes, learn how to interview and network, and obtain good jobs. AUSA has helped more than 100 troops and vets, especially disabled vets, find jobs.Amy Roddey and Dandridge provide these job assistance services for AUSA in their free time.The medical center personnel have described the Charleston S.C. Chapter as their "go to organization" when troops and vets need help.