Outstanding post, Jeff, thank you for thinking of these vet's that have given so much. My home is 75 miles from a VA hospital, I have donated about 30 small kits to them, along with paints, X-acto tools, files, etc. All were much appreciated and well used, but what is even more beneficial to them is some help in getting started in the hobby, some may have never tried it before.
Showing them the basic skills, like preparation, cutting, filing, correcting fit, gluing and painting is also most helpful. Then, some of these vets are disabled to the point that they cannot physically do it all for themselves, some even have brain damage issues, that limit their cognitive abilities to complete a build entirely on their own.
When I go to visit I take along my airbrush and portable compressor with tank, then together we finish projects, with me helping as little as possible. We do that only in summer with good weather, so we can paint outside and not bother anyone with paint odors. I hope some day they will have space for hobby activities at all VA facilities, but that's not the case as yet.
Model building is more than just a hobby to many of these young folks, I sense it's a great temporary release from the boredom and frustrations they experience, due to these life changing injuries. Often they will build something together, as a joint effort.
Good for you, Jeff, thanks for the thought and work.
Patrick