July 15, 2010

Outreach Event in Rice Lake to Combine Information and Provide Venue for Women Veterans and Job Seekers
Supermarket of Veterans Benefits Planned for July 29-30

(MADISON) – An outreach event to bring in veterans and their families from northwestern Wisconsin will take place in Rice Lake at the end of July.

Veterans can apply for an array of state and federal benefits at one convenient location at a two-day Supermarket of Veterans Benefits hosted by the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) on Thursday, July 29 from noon to 7:00 p.m. and on Friday, July 30 from 8:00 a.m. to noon at the National Guard Armory in Rice Lake, located at 307 E. Barker Street.

All veterans, from the newest returning service members to seasoned veterans, are invited to stop by and learn about benefits. Veterans who may have never applied for benefits before are encouraged to attend, as well as those interested in updates and changes to veterans’ benefits and services.

“This Supermarket will take place in conjunction with a Women Veterans Wellness Fair,” said WDVA Secretary Ken Black. “There will also be a Veterans Job Fair on site from noon to 4 p.m. on Thursday. Both of these segments included within the Supermarket provide additional ways for WDVA, along with many partners such as the federal VA and the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, to assist veterans in a number of areas.”

The Supermarket of Veterans Benefits being held in Rice Lake will have over 30 service providers on hand, including the federal VA, state agencies, County and Tribal Veterans Service Officers, veterans service organizations, education centers and more. Veterans and families from other states can also come to the Supermarket to learn about federal VA health care, employment, and other information.

At this “one-stop shop” for benefits, veterans, military service members and family members can:

• Apply for benefits, such as VA health care and prescription drug benefits, disability compensation and pension, personal loans, home improvement loans and education or job training grants.
• Find out about employment information.
• Learn about education benefits including the Wisconsin GI Bill benefit of tuition remission for eligible veterans and dependents.
• Receive assistance in obtaining military medals and records.
• Learn what the Wisconsin Veterans Homes in Union Grove and King offer: affordable assisted living, quality long-term care, activities, and a friendly environment.
• Find out about the Veterans Assistance Program (VAP) to help homeless veterans and those at risk of becoming homeless.
• Learn about the Military Funeral Honors program as well as pre-register for burial in state veterans cemeteries.
• Obtain information about nursing care and aging services.

The Women Veterans Wellness Fair will present information in the Armory auditorium; women veterans will be able to have one-on-one meetings with VA health care officials or join in group meetings.

Parking and admission are free. There will be a concessions stand on site.

Learn more about the Supermarket of Veterans Benefits program on the WDVA website at www.WisVets.com/Supermarkets or by calling 1-800-WIS-VETS (947-8387).