The MSA (Masonic Service Association) VA Holiday Project gathers volunteers to visit VA hospitals during the holidays. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, more than 50 percent of residents have no close relatives. Our volunteers bring the joy of the holidays to these people. Many volunteers testify that the experience of giving this joy rewards them, here is one such story:

"One person we visited said that he wasn't feeling well this year and perhaps we shouldn't visit. I think he was feeling a little down that he was alone and didn't appear to have anyone visiting him. We began singing Christmas songs in the room, and the Vet took more notice of us and then noticed the dogs that we brought. He nearly jumped out of his bed with such joy at seeing the dogs and having visitors. He sat up and swung his legs over the side of the bed. We saw the dramatic change in him immediately. He became very animated and spoke and told us stories of how he missed his dogs that he once had. He was so happy that we came to spend time with him! All of us saw the instant change and how he wished us all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Truly, we are the ones who are blessed because we witnessed many miracles on that today.