Page 10 - Desert Lightning News 5-29-15
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10 May 29, 2015 Desert Lightning News
VA begins Summer of Service to bolster volunteer assistance
WASHINGTON, DC—The Department welcome members of the community inter- In the last year, VA has completed
of Veterans Affairs (VA) today announced a ested in supporting the needs of Veterans. more than 46 million appointments, an in-
new nationwide initiative designed to build VA has also established the following goals crease of more than two million from the
upon its existing partnerships to grow the to achieve by Labor Day: previous year. Nearly 3 million Veterans re-
number of individuals and organizations ceived care in the private sector, an increase
serving Veterans in their communities. The Increasing Volunteers: Committed to en- of more than 44 percent from the previous
Department is renewing its commitment to gaging with 100,000 volunteers to support year. The number of Veterans and Survivors
Veterans and embarking upon a “Summer of care and benefits programs and local events. receiving monthly compensation and pen-
Service” that seeks the help of citizens across sion benefits has increased to nearly 5 mil-
the country to honor that commitment. Increasing Community Partners: Com- lion. In an effort to improve the Veteran’s
mitted to expanding current agreements to customer service experience, VA has begun
“We have made progress over the past year provide services and support reaching more the most comprehensive re-organization in
addressing the challenges we face in deliver- than 15,000 Veterans and family. its history. The initiative, called MyVA, has
ing care and benefits to millions of Veterans been guided by ideas and recommendations
and their families,” said Secretary of Veter- Recruiting Medical Professionals: Hiring from Veterans, employees, and stakeholders.
ans Affairs Robert A. McDonald. “While clinicians and clinical support staff to fur-
there is more work to do to honor our sacred ther expand access to care and homelessness. “There is no mission more noble than
commitment to Veterans, we also recognize serving Veterans and their families. At VA,
that VA cannot do it alone. We are asking Congress: Host Congressional Members we constantly strive to improve the way we
Americans everywhere to join the Summer and Staffs at VA facilities across the country. do our job,” said McDonald. “State by state,
of Service and help us give back to those who community by community, person by per-
have given so much to our nation.” The Department has an outstanding vol- son, there are a number of ways we can all
unteer program, which will be highlighted come together to serve Veterans. From ex-
In the coming weeks, VA will be working throughout the country this summer. VA will panded partnerships with the private sector
closely with Congressional partners, Veter- build upon the ongoing work of its more than and non-profit organizations, to accelerat-
ans Service Organizations, Mayors and local 350,000 employees and 76,000 volunteers ing hiring, to celebrating the commitment of
communities, private sector and non-profit around the nation. While the central focus of VA employees and volunteers – we need the
organizations, and VA employees to identi- the campaign will be increasing volunteerism help of communities everywhere to succeed.”
fy new and innovative ways to support VA’s and partnerships, it will also provide indi-
commitment to care for those who “have viduals and communities an opportunity to Volunteers can help to serve Veterans by
borne the battle” and their families. support other important priorities. Despite visiting http://www.volunteer.va.gov/ to find
a hiring effort that brought more than 11,000 out the needs of your local VA facility.
As part of VA’s Summer of Service, the net new employees onboard over the past
Department has committed to holding an year, VA still needs more health care provid- For more information, go to: http://www.
open house in VA facilities the week of June ers, claims specialists, medical support as- va.gov/vasummerofservice/
28 to spur increased local engagement and sistants, and cemetery directors to continue
to expand needed services. VA’s partners can
help by getting the word out this summer.
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