36th annual 'Christmas with the Vets' sees its biggest year in donations

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- To serve your country is to give back, and that's exactly what Jeff "Doc" Dentice is doing with the 36th annual Christmas for the Vets.

Every year, the former army medic drives across southeastern Wisconsin to collect donations for veterans at the Milwaukee VA Medical Center.

“We pay back, because when we came home from Vietnam, we had [a] not so good [welcome]. So, we said we’d never let that happen to another generation of veterans and we haven’t," said Dentice. 

Each veteran gets a handmade holiday stocking, gifts, and clothing for Christmas. The VA also puts on a holiday party using some of the donations. 

“I think it’s just a special way to show the veterans how much we love and care for them and just showing them they went above and beyond – it’s the least that can be done for them," said Francheska Gorin, a recreational therapist at the VA.

This year, Christmas for the Vets raised $23,000 in donations. Dentice says it's the most successful year to date. 

"Even though everybody’s having a rough time, you know, across Wisconsin, we’re trying to bring some joy to our Veterans at Milwaukee VA," said Dentice.

He says Milwaukee and the rest of Southeastern Wisconsin continues to show up for its veterans, making sure no one is alone this holiday season. 

If you or someone you know would like to donate to Christmas for the Vets, click here.