James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital Opens New Internet Cafe And Family Room

Funds Donated by the AFFF and Taco Bell to Support our Troops and their Families

Tampa, Fla. – Nov. 29, 2011: Over the past two years, local Taco Bell Restaurants in the Tampa Bay Area have teamed up with the AFFF (Armed Forces Families Foundation – armedforcesfamilies.org) to raise money to support our troops’ families. Donations were made at participating Taco Bell restaurants by purchasing a personalized paper bell or by giving extra change from meal purchases. The AFFF and Taco Bell chose to contribute over $55,000 of the funds to support the military families through the James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital.

These funds were applied to update the Spinal Cord Injury Internet Café and create a brand new Brain Trauma Center Family Room for service personnel and their families. Since the hospital services up to 5,000 patients a day, these new additions will provide patients and their families with a welcoming and comfortable environment.

The Internet Café was remodeled to improve the existing space both aesthetically and functionally while maintaining the room’s wheelchair accessibility. The Café has been equipped with ten individual adjustable height workstations, each outfitted with a Dell computer and monitor, along with upholstered chairs with tablet arms for laptops and a central business center printer / scanner. The Café also has been modernized with new flat screen TVs, a microwave, a refrigerator, a coffee maker and donated snacks. Overall, the Internet Café provides patients and their families with the ability to continue to work and communicate with family and friends during their stay at the Hospital.

The Trauma Center Family Room was created by renovating a vacant space within the Hospital and was designed to be wheelchair‐accessible. The room was upgraded with a workstation with a new Dell computer and monitor, upholstered chairs with tablet arms, and an all‐in‐one printer in order to allow for internet connectivity and productivity. The room was also updated with two flat screen TVs, adjustable height tables, chairs for lounging, and a refrigerator and coffee station to complete the room. The Family Room has been created to generate a relaxed, comfortable atmosphere for military personnel and their families while the service member is receiving treatment.

The addition of the Internet Café and Trauma Family Room is intended to serve as a strong support center and provide comfort and accessibility for those patients and families who are going through a difficult time.

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