At a recent local IPMS mtg, I learned of a need for kits at Walter Reed Hospital in Wash DC. The injured and recovering vets and their families apparently love to get and build models. I assume budget cuts and mounting injuries are making it tough to fill the need. Even car kits or Snap FIts would be welcome for kids and physical therapy.#### So if you have old kits you’ll never get to or half-built kit, here’s a chance to put them to good use. I live up the street from the hospital, so you can mail them to me and I can deliver them all at once, or you can send them directly to: AMERICAN RED CROSS, Walter Reed AMC, 6900 Georgia Ave NW, Bldg 2 Room 3E05, Washington DC 20307 For info call them at 202-782-6362
If this post is in the wrong category I’ll be glad to move it, but this is one of the 4 that seem to get the most traffic. You can also email me at gtmail77@yahoo.com for add’l info.
Outstanding timing, my friend. I just moved to Northern Virginia, due to my job. I am about to set up my Man Cave and realized that I just have too many kits. I just can’t build them all. I didn’t want to just store them away and I don’t have time or will to do the ebay thing. My son’s are Boy Scouts, so we will go through my stash, weed it out, and contact the Red Cross…we will make it part of a family project. Thanks for bringing this to everyone’s attention.
I just spoke to them and supplies are welcome too. Paint, brushes, glue, tape, putty, sanding supplies. Not sure about Xactos, super glue, etc. A lot of these guys work from their beds. Sounds like they could really use a steady flow of materials.
I’d suggest talking to the person in charge of the Occupational Therapy Clinic at WR. They have the task to provide arts and craft activities for the patients. They also have a budget to provide these items for the patients, not that they wouldn’t appreciate donations. In my experience, the person in charge needs to be indoctrinated into the hobby so they see the value it has for the patients. One of the USAF hospitals I was at, soon learned that scale modeling was a popular past time and motivated patients to actually do something during their allotted time in OT. Making bead purses and stained glass suncatchers just weren’t my cup of tea. [8-|]
i’m definately in with some kits, got a couple P-51’s and a P-47 that are bagged and will be easy to ship. Just PM me your address if you want to gather them or I can use the Red Cross addy tou posted.
I’m sure there are vet or naval hospitals out your way. Or team up with some other kit donators (even an overstocked hobby shop) and split the cheapest shipping of one big box to DC; might be $5 each person and you could rebag the kits to save space, just leave a chunk of the boxtop art intact. Heck, each kit might be valued at $400 in therapy and you can write off that donation from your taxes.
By the way, what is a PM? Everyone is asking me to send them a PM.
I’ll watch for it/them. They’re also looking for build supplies (no sharps). And I’m looking for a decent but not great airbrush and compressor, if you have them to sell.
I sent the first box off on Monday via Priority Mail, which they say takes 2 days. There might be have some extra supplies like sanding sticks and clamps that I could throw in the next box.
My oldest son is supposed to be released from service soon, he hasn’t been given a date yet. We can’t wait to have him back.
My son spent a little more than 6 months in Iraq, but was sent home early for medical reasons (not drugs). He was more bound to his base, he’s a MOS 25B INFORMATION SYSTEMS OPERATOR–ANALYST with a Stryker Brigade, HQ Co. They were training Iraqi forces about 50 miles north east of Baghdad at an Iraqi base.
If you sent them Monday,then nothing has arrived here yet. Perhaps you sent them directly to the Walter Reed address I had posted. If possible use the tracking code from the USPS to see where they are. Let’s follow up. Of course build suppilies are welcome any time. Thx