Our Hamilton Resource Center has changed locations!  Last week, we began serving veterans out of our new office at 633 High St., Ste. 101. It’s located off the High & 7th bus stop on the Hamilton-Middletown Southboud Route. It will be open to veterans for walk-in hours and appointments Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. MVRC was founded in 2000 and opened its Hamilton office in 2004. Prior to the move, the Hamilton office operated out of AMVETS Post 1983, located at 914 Ross Ave. “At the new location where we’re on the first floor, we can better serve veterans with disabilities,” said MVRC Executive Director Len Proper. “We are grateful for AMVETS Post 1983’s support and partnership over the years, and we will continue to collaborate to help veterans.” The new office includes a computer lab with workstations and a training room for workshops and resume classes. Our next Veterans Career Workshop in Hamilton will take place on Wednesday, June 10. All job seeking veterans and spouses who would like to improve their job search skills are encouraged to attend! We will cover how to develop a resume for your industry of interest and how to deliver a professional interview. Lunch will be provided. For more information about the services MVRC offers veterans and their families, or to sign up for the workshop, contact Veterans Services Specialist Dan Dunaway at 513-252-2395 or dan.dunaway@milvestrc.org.

Meet Steve Korb, our newest Veterans Services Specialist who heads up our Findlay Resource Center. This month, Steve was honored as a Veteran of the Year at the Findlay Military Association’s Armed Forces Day celebration. Each year, all of Findlay’s veterans organizations come together and nominate a handful of candidates for the honor. Steve was selected because of his advocacy on veterans’ issues and his active role in the Findlay community. He was one of five veterans to receive the honor. Congratulations Steve! We’re excited you’ve brought your talents and your passion for helping veterans to the MVRC team! How does it feel to be recognized as a Veteran of the Year in your hometown? I am honored and humbled at the same time. I feel there are probably more deserving vets who should have been recognized, but their time is coming. One of the things the Findlay Military Association asks us is who should be nominated the next time – I have already given them four names. Can you tell us about your military experience? I served four years on active duty and four years in the Reserve. I enlisted in the Marines in 1968 and then was selected for OCS (Officer Candidate School) where I graduated in the top ten of my class. I served in Vietnam and actually wanted to make my military service a career, but in 1972 there was a RIF (Reduction in Force), and a lot of us elected to transition out of active duty […]

Many veterans don’t know about a VA benefit called Individual Unemployability. If you are a veteran and cannot maintain full-time employment because of a service-connected disability, you may qualify for Individual Unemployability, and you should consider applying. Here are four things to know about what IU is and how you can apply. 1. What is Individual Unemployability? Veterans who are unemployed or can no longer work due to a service-connected disability can apply for a VA benefit called Individual Unemployability (IU), or Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU). IU increases a veteran’s disability compensation to the 100% level even if the VA has not rated their service-connected disability at the 100% level. For example, if a vet has been trained for the construction trade, but can’t work because of a service-connected disability rated at 70%, he may be eligible for 100% disability compensation. Here’s another example from an excellent blog post written by VA claims processor Dominique Joseph. 2. Who is eligible for IU? Veterans must meet several criteria in order to receive IU compensation. First, they must be unable to maintain substantially gainful employment because of a service-connected disability. This means the veteran must be unable to maintain full-time employment that pays a wage greater than the poverty level. The VA does not consider odd jobs to be substantial gainful employment. Second, the veteran must have one of the following: One service-connected disability rated at 60% or higher. Two or more service-connected disabilities, with at least one rated 40% or […]

Celebrate Ohio’s military members this Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 16 at the second annual Vets Golf Free Day! This event was launched last year as a way to honor Ohio’s current and former service members during Military Appreciation Month, and we are proud to continue the tradition this year. Vets Golf Free Day will take place at the Forrest Everhart Memorial Golf Course, located at 17273 State Route 104 in Chillicothe (at the VA Medical Center). The event will include 9 holes of golf, the use of a golf cart and lunch for all eligible veterans and military members. Door prizes and skill prizes will also be awarded. Veterans and active service members need to show proof of military service to golf for free. Non-veterans will pay the regular course fees, and lunch will be included. Tee times are available from 8:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. To schedule a tee time, contact Randy Post at 740-774-8387. New this year, businesses and individuals can sponsor a veteran to play in this event. To sponsor a veteran or for information about additional sponsorship opportunities, contact Valerie Lejeune at 614-347-3013. See you at the green!

Celebrate Ohio’s military members this Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 16 at the second annual Vets Golf Free Day! This event was launched last year as a way to honor Ohio’s current and former service members during Military Appreciation Month, and we are proud to continue the tradition this year. Vets Golf Free Day will take place at the Forrest Everhart Memorial Golf Course, located at 17273 State Route 104 in Chillicothe (at the VA Medical Center). The event will include 9 holes of golf, the use of a golf cart and lunch for all eligible veterans and military members. Door prizes and skill prizes will also be awarded. Veterans and active service members need to show proof of military service to golf for free. Non-veterans will pay the regular course fees, and lunch will be included. Tee times are available from 8:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. To schedule a tee time, contact Randy Post at 740-774-8387. New this year, businesses and individuals can sponsor a veteran to play in this event. To sponsor a veteran or for information about additional sponsorship opportunities, contact Valerie Lejeune at 614-347-3013. See you at the green!

Asking for help in a time of crisis is not easy, especially for veterans, who are used to adapting to tough situations. At MVRC, we strive to be a “safe harbor” for vets–a space where they feel accepted and open to asking for help. Every day, veterans and their families share with us their need for food, housing, employment and health-related services. Our mission is to give them the tools and resources they need to become self-reliant in their careers and lives. This May–National Military Appreciation Month–we’re inviting you to join us in our mission. On Friday, May 1, we launched our first annual Help A Vet campaign in support of Ohio’s veterans and their families in need. To participate, make an online donation to one of our three funds addressing the significant barriers veterans face. A donation of $1 could provide $10 of groceries to a family in need. $50 could help a veteran obtain a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) and launch his or her post-service career. However, supporting our funds isn’t the only thing you can do to contribute. Here are a three other ways you can Help A Vet this Military Appreciation Month. 1) Volunteer your time. Be a part of our mission in action. Throughout the year, volunteers provide important support to our programs including career fairs, resource fairs, food drives and special events that raise awareness for veterans issues. Call 614-230-0662 to find out about volunteer opportunities today. 2) Make item donations. Donations don’t have […]