ELMIRA, NY (WENY) -- Local veterans made a donation to help support critical medical care at Arnot Ogden Medical Center in Elmira Thursday morning.

Members of the Vietnam Veterans of America chapter 803, and the Chemung County Honor Guard donated a combined $1,500 to the Children's Miracle Network at Arnot Ogden. CMN purchases vital equipment for the neonatal, pediatric, labor & delivery and maternity units at the hospital. 

VVA 803 President Larry Sherman said it's important for the veterans to give back to local causes, and supporting the NICU is one of their top choices, as there have been man veterans whose families have been helped by the NICU after their babies were born.

"We try to annually give donations out to the community, and this is one of our favorite spots, the NICU unit here at Arnot Ogden. We've had friends and brother veterans who have had grandsons, other babies born here, that were in bad shape when they were born, but came out healed, well not healed but better – so miracles do happen at Arnot Ogden Hospital," Sherman said.

Children's Miracle Network Program Director Lauren Little accepted the donations, saying the appreciate the veterans choosing this organization to support.

"They are someone that comes back every year, and donates something, so it’s always nice when we get that phone call from them," Little said. "A lot of them tell us the stories about a fellow veteran we’ve helped in the NICU, or we’ve delivered their baby, so it’s just nice to hear all those stories."

All of the money donated to the Children's Miracle Network at Arnot Ogden stays in Elmira, to purchase life-saving equipment for babies and children. 

Sherman said it's important for the VVA chapter to give from the heart, and support local charities on behalf of veterans.