Assisting veterans through COVID-19 DAV and VA services available to help disabled veterans navigate employment and financial hardships brought on by coronavirus pandemic By M. Todd Hunter F or many Americans, the nationwide response to the coronavirus pandemic has been unlike anything in recent memory. From social distancing and isolation to a significant economic downturn, our nation’s 4.7 million disabled veterans have not been spared from COVID-19’s adverse effects. As the pandemic has changed personal interactions, organizations like DAV and the Department of Veterans Affairs have shifted to ensure essential services are available to those who need them most. Virtual financial town hall In May, DAV partnered with Comcast NBCUniversal Military and Veteran Affairs, CNBC + Acorns “Invest in You: Ready. Set. Grow.” for a virtual town hall event where veterans across America heard from a team of some of the country’s most knowledgeable financial experts and small business advisers on how to navigate through the pandemic. One of the event’s panelists was DAV ambassador Greg Gadson, a retired Army colonel who lost both legs above the knees in 2007 as a result of a roadside bomb in Iraq. Gadson implored viewers to take things one day at a time when things feel overwhelming or uncertain, such as navigating the COVID-19 pandemic. “Sometimes we can be looking over the horizon and not see what is in front of us and miss opportunities that are right there,” he said. Unemployment relief grants In response, DAV established a COVID-19 Unemployment Relief Fund to provide financial aid to service-connected disabled veterans who lost employment or income in the wake of the virus’s outbreak. Since April, more than $1.5 million in grants have been distributed to veterans in need. The relief, which is made possible through generous donations from the American public and corporate sponsors, has helped our nation’s veterans pay bills, obtain food and provide for their families during these difficult and uncertain times. “I wanted to sincerely thank you for the COVID-19 Relief Fund check,” Marine Corps veteran Robert Lenfesty, a recipient, wrote in a letter to DAV. “The future looks grim at times, but gestures of care such as this instill hope in me. God bless you all.” To apply for a COVID-19 Unemployment Relief grant, visit dav.org/covidrelief. 8 DAV MAGAZINE | JULY/AUGUST 2020
Issue Articles
Assisting veterans through COVID-19
M. Todd Hunter
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