For her term as 2024-2025 Department of Kansas president, Tracy Kinnick chose a project near and dear to her heart. 
 
After seeing interactive gaming systems and the benefits they can provide veterans and their families at an ALA National Convention, Kinnick decided to bring those benefits to Kansas’ U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals and veteran homes.
 
“I liked the fact that with the gaming system, it got the veterans moving. It got them talking. It got them laughing and having a good time,” Kinnick said. “With our main focus of Be the One and engaging our veterans, I truly felt that was a good project to get them just to interact and talk with each other some more.”
 
To aid in Kansas’ endeavor, Kinnick applied for and received an American Legion Auxiliary Foundation Veteran Projects Fund grant. 
 
The grant enabled the department to provide projectors and other interactive technology for the Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center in Wichita.
 

The equipment provides over 150 games for memory, education, and entertainment that can be projected on the wall, floor, tables, or other accessible locations for patients. 
 
“The biggest user of the system is a veteran who suffers with some cognitive processing, and this system has allowed him an avenue to share his life stories with staff,” said Sara Monckton, Community Living Center nurse manager. “As he is playing, he reminisces about his life and the things he has accomplished. This system gives the veterans something to look forward to, and, since it has a wide range of games and multiple proficiency levels, it accommodates everyone.”
 
When the gaming equipment was installed, Kinnick said veterans’ reactions were great.
 
One instance that stuck out was a resident who repeatedly played a fishing game. He opened up and joked that he’s a fisherman, but he’d caught more fish in the game than in real life.
 
The impact of the equipment wasn’t limited to the residents — it also spread to the staff. Kinnick noticed and was overjoyed to see.
 
“The staff were just so appreciative, so grateful, and so excited,” Kinnick said. “That made my heart overjoyed to see the interactions — not only with the veterans and the family there, but also with the staff — and how they were all able to mingle and just have a good time.”

Monckton said VAMC staff felt blessed and honored that the ALA helped them receive the technology to better care for their residents. 
 
“We believe it’s going to benefit all our veterans, both those with cognitive decline and those without. This system will help restore a sense of camaraderie that’s been missing since COVID, encouraging our veterans to work on games together, get out of their rooms, and enjoy some fellowship,” she said. 
 
Kinnick’s goal was to fundraise for similar equipment for other VAs and veteran homes in Kansas. The Veteran Projects Fund grant made the department’s goal more achievable. 
 
“The Foundation’s support through the additional funding helped turn this idea into a reality and eased the burden of raising extra funds on our own,” Kinnick said. “Without the Foundation’s assistance, bringing this project to life would have been much more challenging.”
 
She greatly appreciated the support the ALA Foundation provided throughout the process. With help from the Foundation, the grant process went smoothly.
 
Kinnick encourages other ALA members to connect with the ALA Foundation, finding it to be a great support system to help with projects and the ALA mission. 
 
“If you have any idea — any thought at all — of something you think you want to do, reach out to the Foundation and ask them. They might say, ‘No, we can’t do that, but we can do this,’” Kinnick said. “They’re very helpful.”
 
To learn more about the ALA Foundation’s grants and how you can positively impact our mission, go to www.ALAFoundation.org. Contact the ALA Foundation by calling (317) 569-4500 or emailing ALAFoundation@ALAforVeterans.org.