Last Friday, the Veterans Home gratefully accepted a hefty donation of 21 very large bags of gifts, courtesy of the Federation of Women’s Clubs (the Bristol Community Womens Club, Warwick Womens Club, Cranston Womens Club, South County Womens Club, and theWampanoag Woman’s club in East Providence) along with members of the Bristol community, including Our Lady of Mt Carmel Church and monetary donations from Bank Newport and Fisher Bus.

“This was a real collaboration between the clubs and the community,” said Bristol resident Karen Leach of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs, who serves at the Veterans Affairs chairman for that club and coordinated the effort. “Our mission is community service. We are the oldest Womens Club, founded in 1860, but in these tough times we have lost members.”

With fewer members (and clubs) to contribute to the effort, Leach decided she needed to bring in reinforcements to help get the job done. She took the wish list from the Veterans Home and asked all five clubs to help along with her parish, Our Lady of Mt Carmel Church.

She received the wish list in October — it was large — mostly made up up comfortable clothing items. The community came through, with OLMC parishioners filling 38 wishes, and Bank of Newport and others donating cash, which the club members used to shop for the remaining wishes.

“Fr. Henry Zinno, and everyone just went above and beyond to help,” said Leach.

With many helpers on hand for the drop-off, Alysa Boyle, Director of Activities for the Veterans Home, stacked the 21 very large, very full bags of sneakers, pants, shirts, blankets, socks, and underwear into wagons and wheeled them into the home; staff will be busy assembling the items into festive holiday bags for delivery to the residents on Christmas Eve.