Community Service
Service that stays close to home
The temples and courts of the Desert of Ohio give their time, their labor and their dollars to two commitments that shape our communities: care for children at the Shriners Hospital, and support for veterans in the VA homeless program.
Time
Nobles and Daughters volunteer at hospital visits, holiday events and transport for families traveling to care.
Product
Clothing, hygiene kits, socks, coats and household goods gathered temple by temple and delivered directly.
Treasure
Annual donations raised across the Desert and presented to the hospital and to veterans’ services.
Program One
Shriners Hospital
The Shriners Hospital is the oldest and steadiest of our commitments. Members of the Desert of Ohio visit the hospital, take part in its fundraising calendar, and deliver donations of money and goods on behalf of the temples and courts of this jurisdiction.
Leadership from the Desert makes the trip in person — meeting hospital staff, seeing the wards and the families served, and carrying the Desert’s annual gift forward.
At the donor wall, Dayton Children’s Hospital.
A visit through the hospital atrium.
Beside the Shriners Children’s statue.
Program Two
VA Homeless Program
Many of our members served. The Desert of Ohio supports the VA homeless program with volunteer hours, product drives and direct donations to help veterans move from the street into stable housing.
Temples collect the things a veteran needs on day one — coats, boots, socks, towels, hygiene items, bedding — and members show up to sort, pack and serve alongside VA staff at stand-down events and intake days throughout the year.
Cases of diabetic socks delivered to the VA with staff on hand to receive them.
Unloading the drop-off, box by box.
Mid-West Regional community service drop-off at the VA.
Give time, product or treasure
Temples, courts and friends of the Desert are welcome at every drive and event. Reach out to your temple’s community service chairman to find the next one.