Andrea Carlile is HVAF’s Community Engagement Coordinator – who also leads HVAF’s Veterans Engagement Committee. She always comes back with some touching stories, and she would like to share this one with you:

“I just can’t stop smiling,” Army veteran Terry said, with tears in her eyes. I even had tears of my own hearing from her.

HVAF’s Veteran Engagement Committee’s Ladies Spa Day served our female veterans and veteran spouses, many of them single mothers, facing barriers that would not allow for a day at the salon. Terry hadn’t been to the salon in years because of multiple back surgeries which prevented her from leaving her residence very often. At the end of the day, she was simply glowing!

Thanks to our wonderful sponsors for giving their time and services, we were able to provide massages, facials, manicures, and refreshments. Thank you so much to Carrington Mortgage, Labcorp, Alpha Health and Wellness, Mary Kay Consultant Jameel James, JCC, and American Legion Post 34 Auxiliary Unit. Also, sixteen selfless staff members collaborated to put on this event.

It’s wonderful to see outer beauty enhanced through make-up and painted nails, but witnessing inner beauty emerge before you is an experience that touches the heart in powerful ways.

In life, I continue to be amazed how small acts of kindness can make such an impact on the life of another. Helping the ladies see their beauty, both inner and outer, will hopefully be an encouragement as they return to the challenges they face in their daily lives.

There are plenty of opportunities to support our ladies and their families through an act of kindness, whether volunteering with us or giving a financial gift. Besides providing smiles through a spa day, we serve veterans through housing, essential food, clothing, and hygiene items, employment services, case management, therapy, and more. To learn more about these opportunities, feel free to reach out to me at acarlile@hvaf.org or 765-425-3366.

You can also make a tax-deductible donation today!