Last week, I had the pleasure of meeting with Veterans from Chelan and Douglas Counties as well as participating in events held by the Governor’s Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee (VAAC) and the Women Veterans Advisory Committee (WVAC) at American Legion Post 10 in Wenatchee. Our WDVA Team greatly appreciated the warm welcome from the community and hearing from community members at the two events! Our thanks also go to representatives of the Mann-Granstaff VA Medical Center, Wenatchee CBOC, Chelan & Douglas County Veterans Offices, and American Legion Post 10.
I was also glad to have the opportunity to hear directly from community members and to spend some time building relationships and friendships. It’s the trust, built by walking alongside a Veteran or family member, that bridges gaps and puts real life experiences into perspective. Pictured below is a group meeting at the Veterans Hall in Wenatchee. Here we heard from Veteran leaders who shared that often, all that is needed is information and education on the many services available. The fact is that there are multiple agencies and organizations providing incredible programs and services, but if they aren’t aware of, they’re eligible for, what good are those programs?
We also met with several representatives from Chelan County, including Commissioner Overbay, and talked about issues such as Veterans housing and homelessness, as well as mental health services and the need for additional support. During this meeting, the goal of having a one-stop-shop was shared, which would allow veterans to move from provider to provider in order to connect with the benefits they earned all under one roof. This model of coordinated service has worked in other areas, and it is certainly clear to me that Chelan County is on the road to creating an even more collaborative approach.
Our last stop in Wenatchee was at the Bunker, Vets Serving Vets, a truly one-of-a-kind community resource! Duane, Larry, and George gave us an overview of how their program works and shared a few stories of the impact it’s had on Veterans in the community. The passion for serving Veterans that exists within the Bunker visible and I commend the group for their dedication to simply getting things done.
Thank you for allowing me and others from our WDVA leadership team to visit, listen, and hear your concerns!
The next stop for the VAAC Town Hall and WVAC Women Veterans Forum is Spokane on October 18.
More information is coming soon, and we hope to see you there!
A Message from The Director PDF