by Sufyan Bunch, Veteran Outreach Coordinator
Sufyan with Congressman McNerney
Deputy Director Gail Wadsworth and I attended the East Bay Veterans Fair on July 13, 2009, in Concord. The fair focused on providing specialized assistance in three vital areas: Employment, Education, and Veterans Administration benefits. While at the event we met with veterans interested in farming and made valuable connections with other veteran advocacy groups.
To fulfill our mission of helping veterans, we need to stay abreast of current veteran issues. To this end, on July 18, 2009, I went to Congressman Jerry McNerney’s G.I. Bill Information Fair and Veterans Workshop event in Stockton, California. The Farmer Veteran Coalition was invited to attend with a number of other veteran outreach organizations. Groups that attended encompassed a wide array of veteran support services from housing to employment to education. I had the opportunity to meet with congressman McNerney, and tell the congressman about the project. The congressman was quite supportive of the project. Congressman McNerney is on the House Committee on Veterans Affairs and created a Veterans Advisory Board for his district. He sponsored The Caring for Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury Act of 2007 – H.R. 2201.
This coming Saturday, August 1, 2009, FVC Executive Director Michael O’Gorman and I will attend the second annual “Welcome Home Event” sponsored by the San Diego Veterans Administration. This will take place at the San Diego VA medical center. The event will offer information about VA health care and benefits, education and career opportunities, state and local services, as well as information on the post 9/11 GI Bill, and much more. Mark your calendar. It’s free for all veterans and their family members.
