For the past nine years, David's Drive 831 (DD831), a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of veterans, has held a Christmas Gift Wrapping Extravaganza at the Coatesville Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center, where volunteers wrapped 1,000 gift boxes containing personal care items, snacks and more that were distributed to veterans.

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, however, DD831 was forced to cancel this year's event. Instead, the charity collected gifts that were distributed by VA staff members to homebound veterans and those who reside at the VA center, as well as to veterans who are part of the VA's homeless outreach program.

"What we were forced to do this year was buy products (and) send them to the VA and they distributed them to veterans," said David Turner Sr., founder and president of DD831. "Because of COVID ... we (could) not put (our volunteers) at risk, so all items were presented to veterans with the highest regard for safety."

Turner explained that homebound veterans living in the community received a tin of cookies. Some of the cookies were donated by Royal Dansk. "I reached out to Royal Dansk in October to purchase tins of cookies as a comfort item for veterans during the holidays," said Turner. "(On Dec. 10), David's Drive 831 received a delivery from Denmark, postage paid - a 334-pound skid with 300 tins of Royal Dansk Danish Butter Cookies. A donation from Royal Dansk (helped) us say thank you to veterans for their service."

Inpatients living on the VA campus got a canteen book, which is a coupon book that they can use to purchase items in the VA canteen. Walmart gift cards were given out to veterans in the HUD-VASH (Housing and Urban Development VA Support Housing) program.

Community members were invited to write personal cards or letters to be included with the gifts. Turner reported that DD831 received hundreds of handmade cards from local residents, Girl Scout troops and others, including residents of The Villages at Hillview in Coatesville. Local businesses donated items and monetary gifts, and American Legion Riders 662 of New Holland provided donations of food and cards and chocolate donated by Godiva.

DD831 is named for David Turner Jr., who was employed at the VA Medical Center when he passed away at the age of 20 in December 2009. His family members started the all-volunteer DD831 charity to benefit veterans by providing much-needed goods and services. The 831 symbolizes the phrase "I love you," because the phrase contains eight letters in three words that have one meaning.

Turner pointed out that the charity has remained active during the coronavirus pandemic. It provided nonperishable food items to local at-risk veterans and donated vacuum cleaners and microwaves for veterans in the HUD-VASH program. Most recently, DD831 purchased 50 electric razors and chargers for veterans living in the VA's Community Living Center.

For more information about DD831 or to make a donation, readers may visit http://www.dd831.org or http://www.facebook.com/davids.drive.