On Feb. 11, members of VFW Post 8692 in Albany, New York, hosted their first arts and crafts day for local VA patients suffering from PTSD.
The event welcomed more than 15 veterans and their social workers from the Albany Stratton VA Medical Center to paint birdhouses and American stars, followed by lunch prepared by the Post and its Auxiliary members.
Members of VFW Post 8692 host local VA patients for a day of arts and crafts on Feb. 11 in Albany, New York. Photo courtesy of Jim Haas.“Arts and crafts give PTSD patients a non-verbal outlet to process trauma and reduce anxiety,” said Post Quartermaster and Department of New York Surgeon Jim Haas. “It is a great way to calm their minds and help them relax.”
Haas added that the Post plans to incorporate the event into its annual routine, scheduling an arts and crafts day once per quarter. It would align with other monthly events Post 8692 conducts alongside the Albany Stratton VA Medical Center.
For years, Post 8692 members have cooked breakfast and delivered it to VA patients with PTSD on the second Tuesday of the month. They have also conducted fundraisers and drives to collect clothes and other items for the veterans.
“We do this for many reasons, but one of them is to give patients the opportunity to socialize with other veterans outside the hospital,” Haas said. “It also gives them the feeling of not being forgotten.”
This article is featured in the 2026 March issue of Checkpoint. If you're a VFW member and don't currently receive the VFW Checkpoint, please contact VFW magazine at magazine@vfw.org.