Giving back to our Senior Veterans at AFRH
Donation protected
Want to join me in making a difference? I'm raising money for the Armed Forces Retirement Home, our nation's oldest community for enlisted veterans with campuses in Washington, DC and Gulfport, MS.
My name is Shayla Young and I’m 13 years old. I’m very shy but LOVE to help others especially our Senior Veterans. Because I was being bullied at school, I wanted to do something to help others. I have been volunteering ever since I was 6-years old and 8 years later I’ve accumulated over 1,000 hours supporting 25 different volunteer projects. I became part of the community, learned new skills, took on challenges, but most of all I had so much fun doing it. My inspiration came from my mom, dad, and veterans.
My main project Is helping the Veterans at the Armed Forces Retirement Home (AFRH) in Washington DC. The residents there are like my family since my grandparents are not in my life. We recently lost one of my favorite residents (Gene Downs 93yrs old, the oldest living heart transplant recipient at age 66) that I’ve known the longest. It was by far the hardest time that I’ve gone through seeing him be very active then falling and in the hospital before he passed. This retirement home now has less than 300 veterans, with an average of 85-years old and 10% of them being females. They served in WWII, The Korean War, The Vietnam War, and The Golf War. For the past 8 years while assisting in numerous events such as BINGO, Ice Cream Socials, Bowling, and making cards for the residents at AFRH. I noticed that the residents don’t get out often from the home as most of them do not have cars and a lot have health issues that limit them to doing things. That is why I came up with the idea (my 3rd project - Veterans Community Outreach Dinner) of taking 4 to 5 residents out to dinner at a really nice restaurant. However, we can only do this about once a month as I am in school, on a volleyball team, and volunteer most weekends.
The reason for this GoFundMe is for my 4th project which is “bag of necessities” for our Veterans at AFRH. I’ve reached out to several businesses (so far, I’ve been turned down by 3 major companies and our local Target is willing to help with the reusable bags). I’m a huge advocate for our Senior Veterans, especially the ones at the AFRH. In my new project, we are going to have shampoo, conditioner, body wash, hand soap, lotion, laundry detergent, laundry softener, Clorox wipes, bath towels, hand towels, washcloths, toothpaste, toothbrush, and socks in each bag (approximately $50 per bag). My hopes are to have everything ready in April to hand out near Memorial Day. I would like to do this twice a year (around Memorial and Veterans Day).
*Any residual funds will go towards the Veterans Community Outreach Dinner (my 3rd project where I contact restaurants close to the home to sponsor the Veterans dinners and I pick up the tab of the remaining bill, tip, parking, and transportation) and future bags of necessities for our senior veterans at AFRH*
To learn more about me search Shayla K Young on youtube or use the below links (don’t forget to turn up the volume.) Enjoy!!
:o)
https://youtu.be/fxhPhdaXrxE
https://youtu.be/5GkX8A2dnZg
https://youtu.be/IKWzkKLeUoQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7LPbWGy3oM
My name is Shayla Young and I’m 13 years old. I’m very shy but LOVE to help others especially our Senior Veterans. Because I was being bullied at school, I wanted to do something to help others. I have been volunteering ever since I was 6-years old and 8 years later I’ve accumulated over 1,000 hours supporting 25 different volunteer projects. I became part of the community, learned new skills, took on challenges, but most of all I had so much fun doing it. My inspiration came from my mom, dad, and veterans.
My main project Is helping the Veterans at the Armed Forces Retirement Home (AFRH) in Washington DC. The residents there are like my family since my grandparents are not in my life. We recently lost one of my favorite residents (Gene Downs 93yrs old, the oldest living heart transplant recipient at age 66) that I’ve known the longest. It was by far the hardest time that I’ve gone through seeing him be very active then falling and in the hospital before he passed. This retirement home now has less than 300 veterans, with an average of 85-years old and 10% of them being females. They served in WWII, The Korean War, The Vietnam War, and The Golf War. For the past 8 years while assisting in numerous events such as BINGO, Ice Cream Socials, Bowling, and making cards for the residents at AFRH. I noticed that the residents don’t get out often from the home as most of them do not have cars and a lot have health issues that limit them to doing things. That is why I came up with the idea (my 3rd project - Veterans Community Outreach Dinner) of taking 4 to 5 residents out to dinner at a really nice restaurant. However, we can only do this about once a month as I am in school, on a volleyball team, and volunteer most weekends.
The reason for this GoFundMe is for my 4th project which is “bag of necessities” for our Veterans at AFRH. I’ve reached out to several businesses (so far, I’ve been turned down by 3 major companies and our local Target is willing to help with the reusable bags). I’m a huge advocate for our Senior Veterans, especially the ones at the AFRH. In my new project, we are going to have shampoo, conditioner, body wash, hand soap, lotion, laundry detergent, laundry softener, Clorox wipes, bath towels, hand towels, washcloths, toothpaste, toothbrush, and socks in each bag (approximately $50 per bag). My hopes are to have everything ready in April to hand out near Memorial Day. I would like to do this twice a year (around Memorial and Veterans Day).
*Any residual funds will go towards the Veterans Community Outreach Dinner (my 3rd project where I contact restaurants close to the home to sponsor the Veterans dinners and I pick up the tab of the remaining bill, tip, parking, and transportation) and future bags of necessities for our senior veterans at AFRH*
To learn more about me search Shayla K Young on youtube or use the below links (don’t forget to turn up the volume.) Enjoy!!
:o)
https://youtu.be/fxhPhdaXrxE
https://youtu.be/5GkX8A2dnZg
https://youtu.be/IKWzkKLeUoQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7LPbWGy3oM
Organizer and beneficiary
Shayla Young
Organizer
Springfield, VA
Samantha Young
Beneficiary
