Grateful Vietnam Veteran Eases into Winter Months
Today’s Case of the Week comes from our Grayson, KY office.
We had a Vietnam Veteran walk into the office and told us he had bought his own piece of land and built a tiny home on it. He went all last winter with no heat except for a small space heater. He was scared and concerned that this winter he could freeze to death. He asked us for any help we could give.
We pulled some of our veteran resources and we were able to put him in touch with a fellow electrician. It just so happens that this electrician gave one of our outreach representatives his card just a couple weeks ago. The electrician said he was happy to go help this Vietnam Veteran and do all the work for free! He even hung his drywall for him.
With the electric being up to code, he will be able to get propane installed. We also gave him a box of food and invited him back each month to get another box from our pantry to help get him through this tough winter. He was so happy he was in tears. We are so glad that this Hero won’t have to worry this winter about heat or food.
Post 9/11 Veteran’s Medical Expense Relief
This week’s Case of the Week comes from our Hartselle, AL office. 
 
We recently had a veteran stop by to say hello and see what we are all about because he happened to see our sign along the road. After some good conversation, we came to find out that he had been paying out of pocket for his medication from a private doctor for the past 11 years since he had gotten back from the War on Terror. 
 
He explained to us that it was costing him upwards of $500 dollars per month. Imagine that; $66,000 dollars plus out of his pocket! At our urging, he made an appointment with the VA in Huntsville to get re-evaluated and to get his prescription from the VA. He willingly showed me his doctor’s evaluation and the symptoms of PTSD jumped off the page to me. I am no doctor but I am very familiar with PTSD. I asked him to please stop by after his appointment so we could keep up with his progress. We hope he does!
Vietnam Veteran Needed a Ray of Hope
This week’s “Case of the Week” comes from our Sarasota, FL office.
 
We were contacted by a Vietnam-era veteran after he met one of our outreach representatives this past weekend. This Vietnam Veteran was temporarily housed in a VA domiciliary with, subsequently, admitted, serious water contamination problems (toxic mold exposure), generating serious health issues which the VA unfortunately misdiagnosed and wrongly treated. VA will not now admit culpability, but this veteran is, unfortunately, unable to work due to his serious health issues.
 
Due to this, he fell behind on his electric bill. This veteran felt beset by problems on all sides. Thankfully, we were able to step in and cover his power bill. One less worry so he can concentrate on his health issues and resolution with the VA. We are so pleased that we could help this veteran in need.
Helping Hand and Guidance for Veteran and His Family
This week’s Case of the Week comes from our Hartselle, AL office.
A couple weeks ago, a man and wife stopped into our office in dire need of help. They have five kids and zero income. The gentleman explained that his IU benefits from the VA had been cut off. IU is short for Individual Unemployability, this I did not know.
He had changed addresses and somehow, his benefits were cut off. We immediately cut him a check for his utilities, which were about to be cut off, and talked with him and his wife about their situation.
In finding out more he stated that they were sent to us by the Morgan County Social Services, and that he had no idea that we were here. It is uplifting when you know that a county agency and Veterans’ Outreach can work together to the betterment of a veteran and his family. Before he left we gave him the hotline number to Trump’s veterans call center as it was instituted for cases such as these. The number is 1-855-948-2311, I have heard that it works, give it a try.