Mother Nature cooperated beautifully with our Veterans Free Farmers Market today at the Manchester NH VAMC. United Veterans Services contributed over $1,200 in monetary and produce donations to help insure the success of the program. Over 250 Veterans received free bags of healthy produce at the Farmers Market. Pictured in the attached photo are VAMC Director Kevin Forrest, VAVS Program Assistant Ashley Grimonti and UVS VAVS Rep Joe Dooley distributing some goods at the Farmers Market.
Butler VA 2023 Volunteer of the Year
Congratulations to Butler VA and United Veterans Services Volunteer, U.S. Navy Veteran Chuck Jennings! Chuck was selected as the 2023 Hospital Volunteer of the Year by the American Legion.
Chuck volunteers in the Audiology Clinic at Butler VA, although he is always ready to help in any capacity. With over 13,000 hours of Volunteer Service since 2004, Chuck is a model Volunteer and provides exemplary Red Coat Ambassador services. He helps train new Volunteers and offers encouragement to younger folks as they navigate the system. The Veteran History Project is one of his favorite projects to work on with his fellow Veterans. He has completed 153 stories that have been submitted to the Library of Congress. For additional information regarding Butler VA’s Veterans History Project and to volunteer with Chuck at Butler VA, visit: https://www.va.gov/butler-health-care/work-with-us/volunteer-or-donate/
UVS salutes Chuck and offers our sincere appreciation for providing excellent service to America’s Veterans.
78th VAVS National Advisory Committee Meeting
Attending the 78th VAVS National Advisory Committee meeting in St. Louis, MO are L-R: Bill Ball, Interim Associate Director and Chief, VA Center for Development & Civic Engagement, Palo Alto VA Healthcare System; Marty Naugher, President, United Veterans Services, and Joe Dooley, VAVS National Representative, United Veterans Services.
In 2023, Veteran and community organizations (like UVS) gave over 3.5 million hour of service to American Veterans. They also donated 81.1 million dollars to assist VA in providing for the needs of our Veterans.
UVS Volunteer of 22 years Honored
Leo Plante is a UVS volunteer at the Palo Alto VA Health Care System. His volunteer assignment is to clean and maintain all of the fish tanks at the Palo Alto HSC facilities. He was honored on 5/9/24 for 22 years and over 23,000 hours of dedicated service.
UVS Donation for Veterans Free Farmer's Market
UVS VAVS Representative Joe Dooley presenting a check for $1,000 to Manchester VA Voluntary Service Chief Stella Lareau on April 24, 2024. The donation will be used to support the summer Veterans Free Farmers Markets and the Labor Day Lobster Roll luncheon for Veterans cared for on Manchesters Community Living Center.
VAVS EC Meeting
Members of the VAVS EC held a two day meeting last week at VFW Headquarters in Washington DC. United Veterans Services National Representative Joe Dooley has the privilege of serving as Chairperson of the committee for 2023-24. Representatives from 18 of the 20 Veterans Service Organizations were in attendance for the meeting in which recommendations to enhance VA health care delivery were addressed.
In the second photo VAVS Center for Development and Civic Engagement Director Sabrina Clark shares a moment with UVS National Representative Joe Dooley during the meeting.
UVS Sponsors Veterans Free Farmers Market
The Veterans Free Farmers Market was held last week at the Manchester, NH VAMC. UVS served as the main sponsor of this event designed to assist Veterans with food insecurity concerns. Over 250 Veterans received bags of fresh produce at no cost to them. Special thanks to Parlee Farms in Tyngsborough, MA for filling up our SUV with over $1,000 with of fresh fruits and vegetables.
Golf for Veterans
Another day of golf for veterans. A huge thank you to Frank Schleifer for coordinating this UVS golf tournament since 1993.
Golf for Veterans at Moffett Field
United Veterans Services, the Northern California Golf Association and PGA Hope provided another day of golf for veterans at the Golf Club at Moffett Field.
Free CA Bridge Toll for Veterans
Beginning January 1, 2023, a new California law - Assembly Bill 2949 will grant eligible veterans of the U.S. armed forces free tolls on California toll bridges. Vehicles registered to a veteran displaying eligible license plates will be exempt from paying tolls to cross the Golden Gate Bridge as well as the seven state-owned bridges (Antioch, Benicia-Martinez, Carquinez, Dumbarton, San Francisco-Oakland-Bay, Richmond-San Rafael and San Mateo-Hayward). The free-passage benefit does not apply to Express Lanes.
Manchester NH VAMC Memorial Day Program
UVS volunteer Joe Dooley served as an usher for the Manchester NH VAMC Memorial Day Program. Over 1,000 people attended the ceremony which honored the memory of 175 Veterans affiliated with Manchester VA who passed away in the last twelve months.
UVS volunteers Joe Dooley and Linda Gaetano acknowledged US Senator Maggie Hassan for her efforts presenting each and every family member of a Veteran who passed last year with a rose, Memorial programme and her condolences as part of the ceremony (photo below).
2023 Veterans Golf Tournaments
United Veterans Services and the Northern California Golf Association kicked off the 2023 Veterans Golf Tournaments at the Golf Club at Moffett Field. Many thanks to all the volunteers who made this a special day for veterans.
VAVS National Advisory Committee Meeting Leadership Panel
United Veterans Service VA Voluntary Service National Representative Joe Dooley facilitated an executive leadership panel at the 77th annual VAVS National Advisory Committee Meeting in Denver, CO on April 28, 2023. Pictured with Mr Dooley are Dr. Virginia Creasman, Director Ann Arbor VA Hospital, Dr Leigh Anderson, Chief Medical Officer, VISN 19, Mr Mike Gilman, Director, Denver VA Hospital and Mr Mike Murdock, Director Dayton VA Hospital. The panel discussed opportunities to enhance the overall Voluntary Service program throughout the Department of Veterans Affairs.
UVS Donates to the VAVS Parke Scholarship
UVS made a donation to the VAVS Parke scholarship at the Parke luncheon, held at the 77th VA Voluntary Service National Advisory Committee Meeting. Over $18,000 in student volunteer scholarships were raised at the luncheon. Pictured are UVS National VAVS Representative Joe Dooley and Parke Scholarship Board Member JP Brown accepting the UVS donation.
50/50 Split Raffle Benefits United Veterans Services
50/50 Split Raffle Benefits United Veterans Services
United Veterans Services conducts a 50/50 Split Raffle at the Hillsborough Antiques + Art + Design Show. The Show and the raffle benefit veterans at VA facilities across the United States. The winner of this show’s raffle is R.A. from Richmond, Virginia.
Pictured is Dennis Cortez, owner of Patricia’s Antiques, who drew the winning ticket.
Beware of PACT Act Scams
The recently signed PACT Act brings new opportunities for expanded health care and benefits to Veterans. It also presents opportunity for scammers to commit fraud against Veterans. Protect yourself with these tips.
The PACT Act helps Veterans and their survivors by:
Extending VA health care eligibility for Veterans with toxic exposures and Veterans of the Vietnam, Gulf War, and Post-9/11 (Post-September 11, 2001) eras
Expanding benefits eligibility for Veterans exposed to toxic substances and their survivors
Tips to Avoid PACT Act Scams
Scammers are taking advantage of new opportunities to commit fraud. There’s been an increase in PACT Act-related phishing (email), vishing (phone), and social media scams targeting Veterans to access their PACT Act benefits or submit claims on their behalf.
Veterans should be cautious of anyone who guarantees a lucrative financial benefit or service. To report suspected fraudulent activity, please contact at vaoighotline@va.gov or call (800) 488-8244.
Protect yourself against scams with these tips:
Do not provide personal, benefits, medical, or financial details online or over the phone. Federal agencies will not contact you unless you make a request.
Do not click on online ads or engage with social media that seem suspicious.
Check for “https://” at the start of website addresses.
Enable multi-factor authentication on all accounts.
Work with Veteran service providers you already know.
Submit any suspected fraud to ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
For a flyer about how to avoid PACT Act scams that you can print and hang, click HERE.
Veterans Day
In Memoriam: Paul Noa
United Veterans Services lost a dear friend this week. Paul Noa supervised the logistics at the Hillsborough Antiques Show for about 40 years. We will miss him very much. He is pictured with George Frye, a member of the UVS Board of Directors.
Veterans Free Farmers Market
Photos from the Manchester VA Hospital Veterans Free Farmers Market held on Thursday September 15, 2022 at the VA Hospital. United Veterans Sevices donated $1,000 to the VA Hospital supporting the Veterans Free Farmers Market, VA patients Labor Day Lobster Roll luncheon and Veterans Transportation Network.
Manchester VA Voluntary Service Chief Stella Lareau and United Veterans Services volunteer Linda Gaetano Dooley sorting bushels of native corn for the Farmers Market.
Volunteers Madeline Dreusicke and Linda Gaetano help to package donations of fresh local produce for the farmers market
United Veterans Services VAVS National Representative Joe Dooley prepping some native corn for distribution at the farmers market
UVS Rep Receives Certificate for Volunteering 1000 Hours
Manchester, NH VAMC Director Kevin Forrest presented United Veterans Service VAVS Representative Joe Dooley with a Certificate acknowledging 1,000 hours of volunteer service to Veterans cared for at the Manchester VA hospital on August 20. Joe says “the day I volunteer at the VA is usually the best day of my week”.
