Area Vet services fair plans larger ’24 venue
♦ Around 700 area veterans attended this year’s event in Rome.
The hugely successful area We Care Vets Fair will return in 2024 to a larger venue, probably the Forum River Center, organizers announced during a volunteer appreciation luncheon Friday at the Rome Civic Center. “We were hoping to get 300 people,” United Military Care President Kim Scofi said. “And we ended up with almost 700 visitors.”
The fair occurred May 18, and was organized by United Military Care, a nonprofit serving veterans founded in 2012. Their stated mission is to ensure veterans of all ages, branches, and lifestyles receive the care and support necessary to live their best life.
They provide tools and resources to empower veterans to live a safe, healthy and productive life.
“One of our biggest challenges,” Scofi said, “was to convince veterans and their families that the event is completely and absolutely free.”
Scofi said that she and others have still been getting calls from veterans over six weeks after the event.
“We definitely saved some lives that day, probably more than one,” Scofi said. “It feels great to help our veterans.”
Many veterans came to see what types of services were available, while others came simply to speak with other veterans and possibly meet someone they knew from their branch of service.
But some of them came with specific problems, and hoped that the representatives of the VA or Georgia DVS could help.
United Military Cares is holding another We Care Veterans Fair from Aug. 3-4 at the Cobb County Civic Center in Marietta.
“This is a huge two day event; two floors of vendors and booths to help our veterans,” Scofi said. “And once again, it’s completely free of charge. We’re just trying to help, so come visit us.”