MILWAUKEE — Friday was Jeff Dentice’s favorite day of the year for many reasons; not the least of which, he said, was delivering the mountain of boxes that had overtaken his Muskego home.

“My garage, my house, my basement,” Dentice said, unloading a cardboard box from a trailer. “It was up to the roofs.”

Dentice, known by friends as “Doc,” has helped organize “Christmas with the Vets” since 1988. He said it started as a small bit of kindness and appreciation around the holidays. Now in its 35th year, it has become a regionwide charitable effort.

“The donations have been just tremendous,” Dentice said. “And every year I say, ‘This is the biggest one.’ Well, this is really the biggest one.”

Doc and three fellow Vietnam veterans unloaded 86 boxes of gifts for Milwaukee VA Medical Center staff to distribute to men and women forced to spend Christmas in the hospital. Dentice said they drove 1,800 miles across Southeast Wisconsin collecting gift donations from families and businesses. Friday they dropped off new clothing, winter hats and gloves, Christmas treats and other stocking stuffers, hoping no one at the VA will feel forgotten around the holidays.

“Most of them don’t have family here,” Dentice said. “Now they’re gonna go, ‘My god. Somebody cares. Somebody gives a darn. Hallelujah.’ That’s what it’s all about.”“Most of them don’t have family here,” Dentice said. “Now they’re gonna go, ‘My god. Somebody cares. Somebody gives a darn. Hallelujah.’ That’s what it’s all about.”

Now in his mid-70s, Doc has given back with “Christmas with the Vets” for almost half his life.

“I was a medic in Vietnam,” he said. “This is what I do. I’m paying it forward.”

While Doc focuses his charitable efforts on veterans, he said he hopes his work inspires others to help some of the many Wisconsinites facing tough times this holiday season.