Veterans assistance fair set for Monday

Event to be held from 5-6:30 p.m. at SouthArk Library

Representatives from Veterans Affairs of Central Arkansas will travel to El Dorado on Monday to host a veterans assistance fair and town hall meeting.

The event, which will be from 5-6:30 Monday night in the South Arkansas Community College Library, is designed to help local veterans register for services, check on eligibility for programs and learn about available services.

Arlo Taylor, with Central Arkansas Veteran Health Services, said the CAVHS has been hosting this style event about once a quarter in towns across the state, having recently done one in Pine Bluff, as a proactive program.

“We’re offering an opportunity for El Dorado veterans to talk to our specialists,” Taylor said. “If they want to sign up for health care services, they can do that there also. We just try to make these events proactive so that if folks do have issues, we can take care of them there on the spot if possible.”

Representatives from a variety of programs with CAVHS will be at the event to help answer questions. Taylor said some of the departments include the Veteran Benefits Administration as well as the Veterans Healthcare Administration.

He said one of the main reasons to come to El Dorado is the number of veterans in the area, but also that El Dorado has a community VA clinic. Staff from the El Dorado clinic will also be there Monday to help answer more specific questions about the services provided.

“It’s just a great opportunity for us to talk to our patients and potential patients who want to determine their eligibility,” Taylor said.

“Direct communication with the folks that we serve. If they have questions or issues, we’ll help them the best that we can. We try to cover the spectrum at these events.”

Veterans will be able to sign

up for benefits at the event if they’re looking to establish them for the first time. VA officials have previously said that many veterans don’t set up their VA benefits, often thinking they waited too long or because they don’t think of themselves as veterans. But if a person served, they likely are eligible for some type of benefits. Taylor said

those interested in signing up should bring their DD214 form to the event.

File photo Q&A: From left, Gina Chandler, assistant director of veteran services, William (Bill) Wussick, assistant director of veteran cemeteries, Kathie Gately, assistant director of veteran homes and veteran service officer Andrew Anderson answer questions for veterans during a town hall meeting at the Roy V. Kinard American Legion Post 10 in El Dorado on in August 2017.