Ahead of the Memorial Day weekend, the community can honor those who have served in the military by participating in the Salinas Valley Health Veteran Blanket Initiative. A special guest and blanket recipient will be on hand at 11am to personally thank the volunteers and describe what the gift meant to him during his inpatient stay at the Medical Center.

What: Salinas Valley Health Veteran Blanket Initiative

When: Tuesday, May 21, 2024

Times: 10am-1pm and 5pm-7pm

Location: 420 East Romie Lane, Suite A, Salinas

Parking available in Parking garage at Wilgart and E. Romie

On Tuesday, May 21, COPE Health Scholars and Volunteer Services are hosting two sessions to support the Salinas Valley Health Veteran Blanket Initiative. The public is invited to attend these sessions and lessons.

Staff and volunteers at Salinas Valley Health have been creating patriotic lap blankets for hospital patients who have served our country. We have received many beautiful handmade quilted, sewn, knitted and crocheted blankets and are distributing them on special holidays to Veteran patients. The patients are able to take the blankets home with them as a lasting and meaningful expression of our appreciation to their military service.

We welcome the public to this free community opportunity to support the project. Knitting instructors are needed and can call 831-204-8358. Crochet instructor will be on hand to demonstrate how easy it is to help the project. Volunteers will be assembling 9X9 patriotic squares in 48” X 36” blankets for distribution. A variety of handmade patriotic blankets will be on display if community members would like to drop by the sessions to get ideas on how they can help support the project and show their appreciation to our Veterans.

(Media Opportunity on May 21 at 11am) A well-known community member and Vietnam Veteran, the Honorable Johnathan Price received a blanket during his stay at the Medical Center in November 2023. Judge Price will be expressing his gratitude with the volunteers and personally describing how the gift impacted him and his conversation with a fellow Veteran. It is an inspiring and emotional story and perfectly captures the intended purpose of Veteran Blanket Initiative at Salinas Valley Health.