titleendendVETERANS SERVICE AGENCY REPORT
April 3, 2025 - 12:00 PM
Director's Report
* Local Activities
o On February 26th, I attended the Liberty Elks Lodge 1545 meeting and discussed annual programs for veterans to include the Honor Flight and the Camp Bristol retreat. Lodge members April Rodriguez Walsh and Megan Yelekli were successful in distributing food and supplies to the warming center in Liberty helping our office in locating homeless veterans.
o On six separate dates in February and March, our Clerk Sheldon Dillon assisted Sharon Ferber at the Community Assistance Center to distribute pallets of food.
o Our office has continued to conduct wellness checks of elderly veterans and those suffering from food insecurity within the community. VSO Zack Jones has contacted surrounding VSA's to investigate the status of many Vets we encounter, and provide information on services available.
o On March 17th Senior VSO Joe Putnam and on March 24th VSO Zack Jones, attended the "Coffee and Camaraderie" event held by Vet 2 Vet of Sullivan County. The event was informative and provided invaluable networking with veterans and veteran agencies. This event is held at ATI every Monday at 10:00 am.
o In recent months, our office received information regarding potential veterans at local establishments, asking for monetary donations. We advise the public to be careful who you donate to, as we've recently uncovered cases of stolen valor.
o Our Administrative Assistant April Barschow will attend an accreditation training provided by the National Association of County Veterans Service Officers, to provide a wider range of services to our local veterans and surviving spouses.
* VA & PACT Act Updates
o The new Administration has appointed former US Representative Doug Collins (R-GA) as Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). At our last meeting, we discussed many of his plans to implement previously attempted VA projects which do not contain realistic...
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