Berkbigler donated 20


quilts to Jefferson Barracks Hospital where Cathy Pilliard, Auxiliary 2593, Arnold, Mo., is the VAVS Representative. The hospitalized veterans did not really need them, so Cathy reserved them until the day a Volunteer Services employee at the hospital, Rocky Buchanan, mentioned the plight of homeless veterans. “To be honest with you, I had no clue that we had homeless veterans in this day and age,” said Pilliard. Buchanan’s research showed there were 2,000 to 3,000 veterans on the streets of St. Louis and three area counties on any given night. “The numbers were just devastating to me,” Pilliard said. And she couldn’t stand


not doing anything about it. She also realized how many others were unaware of the great number of homeless veterans. Pilliard spread the word about the quilt project within her Auxiliary and across the District last May. Fellow Auxiliary #2593 member Barb Bickmore collected and pieced material to complete quilt tops, and along with Becky Menning helped Pilliard create kits with materials and instructions. Department Hospital VAVS Chairman Linda Bennett, Auxiliary 280, Columbia, Mo., designated the quilts as her special project. Finished bedrolls reached 145 with more coming in, but Pilliard was not satisfied. So as District 8 Hospital Chairman,


24 LADIES AUXILIARY VFW MAGAZINE


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