New group forming to help Tuolumne County veterans

There is a new coalition being formed in Tuolumne County to help veterans.

Suggested by Ron Copps, a Vietnam veteran and a member of the Elks Lodge, the group is being joined by another Vietnam veteran, Danny Ortega, CEO of the Moose Lodge, and county veterans organizations.

Copps contacted longtime veteran advocate Frank M. Smart for help in putting the group together late last year.

“We have had several meetings to see who all will be involved, and we have invited Chapter 391, Vietnam Veterans of America, of which I am president, the Sonora and Tuolumne Township VFWS, the

American Legion, the DAV, and Veterans Helping Veterans to join us,” Smart said.

“Of course, Chapter 391 will be one of the lead organizations, and we know we can count on help from the other veterans’ organizations to join us when we need them.”

There are several groups of veterans who, from time to time, need help, according to Smart.

“There are the homeless veterans, and we think there are about 25 in the county, and then there are the disabled veterans, and lastly, but probably where the most need is, elderly veterans living in reduced circumstances,” Smart continued.

To get help locating elderly veterans, Smart contacted the Area 12 Agency on Aging, Tuolumne County Adult Protective Services, and the Tuolumne County Veterans Service Office and is calling on local churches that may know of veterans in need.

Smart cited a good example of how the group might work when he learned of an 80-year-old Vietnam veteran whose water heater had failed and he could not afford to buy a new one.

Chapter 391’s Veterans Emergency Team (VET), led by Vietnam veteran Bob Digiacomo, contacted the veteran’s friend, who bought a new water heater, had her husband install it for free and the VVA and two VFWS repaid her.

“That’s an excellent example of how this unit can and will work to help our veterans in need,” Smart said.

The Moose and the Elks lodges joined in helping the Tuolumne County Veterans Service Office(vso) put on a mini-stand Down last year at the VSO office. There were boots and shoes made available to the homeless veterans who showed up, along with a light luncheon, tarps, and other items those camping out might need.

So those two groups have worked together before and it went well, according to Smart.

The next time an issue comes up, he said, he will go to the other groups for help so that no one entity will have to bear the weight financially.

They will also call on members of all the groups to provide people with construction skills, such as plumbing, electrical, HVAC, the building of wheelchair ramps, and other skills.

The group will look for local businesses to donate building materials as the cases come up, and look for social/civic organizations to come on board from time to time to help out.

For more information, contact Smart at fsmart@ rocketmail.com or (209) 559-1908.