CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) RESOURCE CENTER Read More
Add To Favorites

Jacksonville veterans’ group to pioneer virtual campaign

Florida Times-Union - 7/26/2020

The Northeast Florida Community Veterans Engagement Board is launching a Virtual Veterans Experience Action Center Wednesday through Friday.

Veterans can speak with representatives to receive help with their U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs benefits to work toward resolution of claims, appeals, review letters or assist with additional questions.

The Virtual Veterans Experience Action Center is modeled after a similar event at Columbus State University last December, which was intended to streamline the process of connecting veterans with their benefits.

"They had people there who could really cut through red tape and make things happen," said Michael Fleming, co-chairmen of the Veterans Engagement Board.

While the board originally planned to have a similar event at University of North Florida in June, it had to rethink the event due to COVID-19.

Now the virtual event will serve as something of a playbook for future events like these across the nation.

"We have kind of broken the code on how to do this in Northeast Florida and then the VA will be able to do this in any place in the United States using the foundation we've developed," Fleming said.

The board hopes to host virtual events like these every six months.

After veterans register online, they will receive a call at their scheduled time and will speak one-on-one with a representative who will assist them and their families. They can then receive help regarding a variety of concerns, such as filing and updating claims, enrolling in VA health care, receiving temporary financial assistance and other support services.

"While veterans can call the Veterans Administration any day of the week they want, we wanted to do something where we can streamline things for them," Fleming said.

Organizers hope to contact hundreds of veterans during the three-day event. Currently 300 veterans are registered.

"There are veterans out there who have earned benefits. This is not a gift from the government; being in the military, they have earned those benefits," Fleming said.

Those who wish to participate are encouraged to register by Monday online at booknow.appointment-plus.com/ch422seq/ or contact United Way8 a.m. to 6 p.m. by dialing 2-1-1 or (904) 632-0600.

Anna Savo-Matthews: (904) 359-4097

___

(c)2020 The Florida Times-Union (Jacksonville, Fla.)

Visit The Florida Times-Union (Jacksonville, Fla.) at www.jacksonville.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.