With benefits for veterans constantly changing, the Veterans Resource Fair from 10 a.m.-noon April 23 at the River Falls American Legion is bringing in over 20 vendors to share what benefits those …
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With benefits for veterans constantly changing, the Veterans Resource Fair from 10 a.m.-noon April 23 at the River Falls American Legion is bringing in over 20 vendors to share what benefits those who have served the country are eligible for. The event is open to the community for veterans of all ages.
“It’s basically just resources from the community and the Twin Cities. The veterans services officers from Pierce and St. Croix counties will be there to help with benefits. The Office of Veteran Employment Services is coming. There’s going to be homecare, hospice, VA long-term care will be there,” Megan Harstad of The Sycamore, a co-sponsor for the event, said.
The event will also feature resources like Our Neighbors’ Place, mental health resources, medical care access, resume writing assistance for seeking jobs and more.
“I meet with a lot of families that don’t know about all the veteran resources available, like benefits they can receive. My dad was a Vietnam vet, so that’s why I’m always pushing for them to know about their benefits,” Harstad said. “We have 23 veterans that live with us right now.”
The Sycamore has always placed an emphasis on veterans in the community, including its Veterans Wall of Honor, veterans coffee events and discounts for veterans living their first year at The Sycamore. When Harstad had seen a north metro veterans resource fair, it prompted her to reach out to Pierce County Veteran Services' Melissa Hildebrandt to find out whether western Wisconsin had a similar event. Harstad was told this area does not have a similar fair, so The Sycamore partnered with Brightstar Homecare Services to begin pulling the event together.
“We’re hoping we have a good turnout so then we can keep growing it and maybe have speakers at it or different additional organizations,” Harstad said. “This is kind of our first year to see how it goes over.”
All are welcome at the River Falls American Legion hosted event to learn what benefits they or their family members are entitled to.
“It’s important for them to know the local resources and also the resources available through the VA,” Harstad said. “Their benefits are always changing, so they might have not qualified for something a while ago, and now they can see there’s new benefits for them that they might qualify for.”
