Jacobs supports ‘Wounded Warrior Project’

For the second consecutive year, Nassau County Presiding Officer Judy Jacobs (D-Woodbury) is urging everyone to support the Wounded Warrior Project Backpack Program, a non-profit organization that supplies much needed comfort items to wounded soldiers who have returned from current conflicts and are recovering at Walter Reed Medical Center and other facilities.

According to the WWP, most wounded soldiers, involved in the conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan and other places around the world, land stateside with nothing more than a hospital gown. The WWP presents each soldier with a backpack of small comforts like toiletries, clothing and a CD player. Distribution of the packs let soldiers know that they have not been forgotten. WWP also provides lodging and airfare for relatives to visit with their loved ones while in rehabilitation centers and helps veterans during recovery with education and job counseling. WWP also offers wounded soldiers an opportunity to speak to a comrade with a sympathetic ear, someone who can help them in identifying and obtaining benefits, vocational training and more.

“Last year Long Island resident Chris Carney crossed the county on his bicycle—more than 4,200 miles across 12 states—to help raise money for and consciousness about the Wounded Warrior Project,” said Legislator Jacobs. “Chris’ journey made it possible to present over 2,500 backpacks to wounded soldiers, plus pay the salary of a fulltime counselor at Walter Reed Hospital, to help disabled vets with benefits, jobs and other issues. I hope everyone will continue to support this great cause.”

The Wounded Warrior Project is a division of the United Spinal Association, a veteran service and disability rights organization that seeks to assist those men and women of the armed forces who have been severely injured during military conflicts around the world.

To learn more about the Wounded Warrior Project visit www.woundedwarriorproject.org.