April 2015 - Military Veterans Resource Center

April 30, 2015

Published by Krystle Proper at April 30, 2015

Veteran Spotlight: Marine Corps veteran serves fellow vets long after the transition

Tomorrow, May 1, begins National Military Appreciation Month–a time designated by Congress for all citizens to recognize, honor and show appreciation for those who have served in our nation’s military. With this in mind, we wanted our next Spotlight edition to feature a veteran who embodies what Military Appreciation Month is all about–giving thanks by giving back to veterans in need. U.S. Marine Corps veteran Art Harris was a natural choice. Harris, the founder and owner of Essential Auto Service in Whitehall, Ohio, has collaborated with MVRC many times to help our veteran clients. Whether the need was a car repair or an auto repair estimate, Harris has always worked out a fair deal and provided quality service to the veteran. “Just like MVRC, Art is interested in doing what’s best for the vet,” said MVRC Director of Operations Tim Taylor. Taylor first sought out Harris’s help in 2013 when MVRC began receiving requests for transportation assistance. At the time, the organization had just expanded its service model from providing career services to taking a more holistic approach to veterans’ services. This included providing bus passes and gas cards to vets so they could get to work, and then we started seeing vets who needed help paying for car repairs. Taylor, also a Marine Corps veteran, knew Harris through their connection to the Marines, and called Harris to discover how much he would charge for the repairs. Harris offered up reasonable rates and has since partnered with MVRC. “Art charges […]

April 29, 2015

Published by Krystle Proper at April 29, 2015

Military Discounts for Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 10, which means now is the time to start planning something special for your Mom—if you haven’t already. Your gesture doesn’t need to be expensive or extravagant. There are plenty of activities you can do together or homemade gifts you could make to give thanks. For military members, many retailers and businesses are offering discounts to help you out this Mother’s Day holiday. Activities: Show Mom you care by spending some quality time together. All of these activities are fun for families and can be cost effective with your discount. Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden Moms will receive free admission to the Cincinnati Zoo on Mother’s Day. Show your military ID any other day and adults receive $3 off admission and children receive $2 off admission. The military discount is valid for immediate family members only. Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Moms will receive free admission to the Cleveland Zoo on Mother’s Day. On any other day, the Cleveland Zoo offers a military discount for the service member (active or retired) and up to six people in the group. For more details, call 216-635-3310. Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Moms can enjoy free admission at the Columbus Zoo on Mother’s Day with one paid child’s or grandchild’s admission ticket. The regular military discount is $2 off admission for active and retired service members and up to six people in their family. Proof of service must be presented. Toledo Zoo Mothers will receive free admission to the Toledo Zoo with one paid child’s admission […]

April 27, 2015

Published by Krystle Proper at April 27, 2015

Check Your Drinking this Alcohol Awareness Month

Alcohol use has long been associated with military culture. For many who serve, drinking is a way to bond with other soldiers, relax during times of stress and “let loose” in an otherwise highly structured in environment. That being said, the military also has a history of alcohol misuse among its service members. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), military-related traumatic stress increases the risk for people to abuse alcohol. The VA also reports that 27% of veterans in VA care diagnosed with PTSD have Substance Abuse Disorder (SUD), which is the dependence on drugs, alcohol or smoking. This April is Alcohol Awareness Month and a reminder to get updated on the warning signs and harmful effects of alcohol abuse. If left unchecked, long term alcohol abuse can lead to heart problems, liver disease, diabetes, neurological complications and other serious mental and physical health problems. Especially for veterans, who served in high-stress environments and conflicts, it’s important to understand when having a few drinks “just to relax” can cross the line to alcohol abuse. What is alcohol abuse? Alcohol abuse occurs when you engage in harmful drinking habits, such as binge drinking, and it can lead to alcohol addiction. According to WebMd, “When you abuse alcohol, you continue to drink even though you know your drinking is causing problems.” Alcohol addiction, also called alcohol dependence or alcoholism, is when you have a physical or mental addiction to alcohol. In other words, you feel strong cravings for alcohol, or […]

April 15, 2015

Published by Krystle Proper at April 15, 2015

Girl Scouts donate 350 cases of cookies to Military Veterans Resource Center

COLUMBUS, Ohio (April 15, 2015) – On Tuesday, April 7, the Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland Council delivered 350 cases of cookies to Military Veterans Resource Center’s Food Bank. The donation was made possible by their Operation Salute program, which sends cookies to organizations that support current and former military service members. “The cookies are a special treat for our veterans and especially their kids. We’re excited to partner with the Girl Scouts again and surprise our vets with the cookies,” said MVRC Executive Director Len Proper. According to Jessica Martin, Product Program Operations Manager at the Council, Operation Salute started in 2013 when the girls’ expressed their interest in giving back to Ohio’s service members. The Council agreed to launch the program, taking care of all shipping needs and adding an option on the cookie form for customers to donate a box of cookies to Operation Salute. This season, customers donated a total of 28,442 boxes to the program–over 5,000 boxes more than last year. “The girls get very excited about the program, and it’s a great way for customers to be supportive of both the girl scouts and our military members,” said Martin. Military Veterans Resource Center’s mission is to provide comprehensive services and information that enables veterans who served honorably to become self-reliant in managing career and life decisions. MVRC is a non-profit organization based in Columbus and operates five centers throughout Ohio. About the MVRC Food Bank: Military Veterans Resource Center operates an emergency food bank for […]