Chappaqua Volunteer on Mission to Help Veterans
Robert Coulombe can usually find time to help his community or someone in need. After all, he’s been a volunteer ambulance corps member in Chappaqua for nearly 20 years and finds time to play music for veterans at the Montrose VA.
Now he has undertaken a new project. The Air Force veteran is collecting various games, electronics and art supplies to bring to veterans at the Veterans Administration hospitals at Fort Hamilton, Brooklyn and the Bronx. Once he clears some administrative hurdles, Coulombe plans to do the same in Montrose and at Castle Point in Dutchess County.
Now all he needs is the help of the community to pitch in and make donations. During the next two Saturdays, June 2 and June 9, community members can bring their donations to the Chappaqua Farmers Market where Coulombe will collect them and take them to the hospitals.
“We all are looking to help,” Coulombe said. “It’s as simple as that, finding out they had a need and doing something about it.”
Among the items the hospitals are looking for are pool and ping pong tables, basketballs, footballs, Frisbees and exercise bands and mats. Electronics are also in short supply, particularly iPods and iPod clocking stations and arcade games.
Also very popular are art supplies of all kinds, including easels, canvas boards, paint, pastels and stencils. Other items that the veterans could use are holiday decorations, wall pictures and hanging decor.
Then there are musical instruments of all kinds. Coulombe’s latest effort comes about a year and a half after he embarked on a drive that netted about 40 instruments for veterans.
Coulombe said funds are so tight at the veterans hospitals that the men barely have what they need, let alone extras. He has been in contact once again with Erica Schack, a physical therapist who works at the Brooklyn VA, and helped Coulombe coordinate the instrument collection drive.
Anyone interested in making donations, can find Coulombe at the Chappaqua Chamber of Commerce’s booth at the Chappaqua Farmers Market the next two Saturdays. The market is at St. Mary’s Church, 191 S. Greeley Ave., from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
For anyone who can’t make it to the market but still wants to donate, you can contact Robert Coulombe at 914-747-4322 or by e-mail at bobchappaqua@aol.com.
Martin has more than 30 years experience covering local news in Westchester and Putnam counties, including a frequent focus on zoning and planning issues. He has been editor-in-chief of The Examiner since its inception in 2007. Read more from Martin’s editor-author bio here. Read Martin’s archived work here: https://www.theexaminernews.com/author/martin-wilbur2007/
