Page 20 - Aerotech News and Review, November 5, 2021

Antelope Valley Veterans’ Resources Antelope Valley Veterans’ Resources – Continued
Lawmakers https://www.lacba.org/give-back/veterans-legal-ser- Service members and/or Veterans Group Life Insur- July of this year, organized an event called Veteran Re-
The offices of local lawmakers have staff available Antelope Valley Office Operation Healthy Homecoming vices-project ance Program source Networking, which brought together experts in
to assist veterans with expediting applications for ben- 848 W. Lancaster Blvd., Suite 101 Operation Healthy Homecoming is an outreach of 1-800-419-1473 various fields to provide information about employment,
efits and assistance at the Federal and state levels. Lancaster CA 93534 Mental Health America, with offices in Lancaster and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs benefits, education and other factors.
Constituents are invited to contact their field offices for Phone: 661-729-6232 Palmdale. The program serves very low-income vet- The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs provides All other VA Life Insurance Programs Through the organization’s Art Therapy Program, vet-
additional information. Website: https://wilk.cssrc.us erans and their families who are homeless or at risk of healthcare services, including an outpatient clinic in the 1-800-669-8477 erans can utilize their creative abilities to draw, sketch or
Email: senator.wilk@senate.ca.gov becoming homeless. Operation Healthy Homecoming Antelope Valley and specialized programs that serve paint the unspoken thoughts and feelings, the emotions
U.S. Senators Veteran’s Affairs: Brandon Roque, 661-729-6232 or offers benefits assistance and personal financial plan- female veterans, veterans in need of mental health ser- Mammography Helpline they keep inside. The program is conducted under the
U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein email: brandon.roque@senate.ca.gov depending on ning, housing counseling and placement, temporary vices, and former service members who are homeless 1-888-492-7844 therapeutic supervision of Gerry Rice, LMFT.
Washington, D.C. Office the issue financial assistance and employment assistance. or in danger of becoming homeless. Group leaders are currently seeking a new location
331 Hart Senate Office Bldg., Washington, D.C. Women Veterans Hotline for the art sessions.
20510 California State Senate, Shannon Grove, 16th Mental Health America — Operation Healthy U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs 855-VA-WOMEN (829-6636) For details call 661-943-5100. Check online at www.
Phone: 202-224-3841 District Homecoming VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System avvets4veterans.org for the time, date and location of
TDD: 202-224-2501 Capitol Office Headquarters Lancaster Outpatient Clinic CHAMPVA Meds by Mail art sessions.
State Capitol, Room 3048 506 W. Jackman St., Lancaster, CA 93534 340 E Avenue I Suite 108, Lancaster, CA 93535 1-888-385-0235 (or)
San Francisco Office Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone: 661-729-8655 1-866-229-7389 Coffee4Vets
One Post St., Ste. 2450, San Francisco, CA 94104 Phone: 916-651-4016 Palmdale Office A cup of Joe might please the soul of a downhearted
Phone: 415-393-0707 1529 East Palmdale Blvd., Ste. 331 Sepulveda Ambulatory Care Center Special Issues — Gulf War/Agent Orange/Project service member, but there’s some sense of cheer when
Website: www.feinstein.senate.gov Bakersfield Office Palmdale, CA 93550 16111 Plummer St. Bldg. 200, North Hills, CA 91343 Shad/Mustard Agents and Lewisite/Ionizing Radia- the masses appear for breakfast from now until De-
5701 Truxtun Ave., Ste. 150 Phone: 661-947-1993 Phone: 818-891-7711 tion cember.
For Veterans Affairs or Academy Nominations call Bakersfield, CA 93309 Email: dmarquez@.mhala.org 1-800-749-8387 Generally aging veterans gather for breakfast at 7
415-393-0707 or email: casework@feinstein.senate. Phone: 661-323-0443 They are working remotely now. West Los Angeles Medical Center a.m. every Tuesday like clockwork in the side room at
gov Website: https://grove.cssrc.us or 11301 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90073 Status of Headstones and Markers Crazy Otto’s Diner, 1228 West Avenue I in Lancaster,
Also, visit the page: academyapplications@fein- Senate.ca.gov/grove Antelope Valley Vet Center Phone: 310-478-3711 1-800-697-6947 Calif. They might order eggs and toast or something
stein.senate.gov Assists veterans only with local issues such as ac- as simple as a bowl of oatmeal, but they really look
cess for food or homeless shelters, call 661-323-0443 The Antelope Valley Vet Center is a community-based West Los Angeles Women’s Clinic Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) forward to a conversation with others who can relate
U.S. Senator Alex Padilla Senator Gove is an army veteran, so is Field Rep counseling program of the Department of Veterans Af- Phone: 310-478-3711, Ext. 40285 Dial 711 to similar past experiences in the military. Regardless
Washington D.C. Office Christopher Quinones fairs. They offer a broad range of services, including of the branch they served in or the location where they
112 Hart Senate Office Bldg., Washington, D.C. readjustment counseling, counseling for PTSD, sexual Comprehensive Homeless Center were deployed, they share a brotherhood or sisterhood
20510 California State Assembly, Tom Lackey, 36th Dis- trauma and bereavement, help for women veterans, Angela K. Russell The American Legion that many of their friends and relatives will never under-
Phone: 202-224-3553 trict referrals for VA benefits and employment referrals. 11301 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90073 www.legion.org stand. Aside from their personal conversations, a guest
Capitol Office Phone: 310-478-3711, ext. 48716 National Headquarters speaker usually attends to talk on a variety of topics. It
San Francisco Office Rooms are currently being assigned to assembly Antelope Valley Vet Center — Readjustment Email: Angela.Russell3@va.gov 700 N. Pennsylvania Street, P.O. Box 1055, India- could be someone from local law enforcement, or the
333 Bush St., Ste. 3225, San Francisco, CA 93721 members Counseling Services napolis, IN 46206 field representative of an elected official who can con-
Phone: 415-981-9369 P.O. Box 942849 Sacha Gates, Readjustment Counselor National Resources Telephone: 317-630-1200 nect veterans with military benefits.
Website: www.padilla.senate.ov Sacramento, CA 94249 38925 Trade Center Dr. Ste. J, Palmdale, CA 93551 The idea: it’s the veterans’ hour or two, time dedicated
For Academy Nominations visit the webpage www. Phone: 916-319-2036 Phone: 661-267-1026 Veterans Administration Washington Office to them, when too often the rest of the world passes
padilla.senate.gov/services/academies Email: Sacha Gates@va.gov www.va.gov 1608 K St. N.W., Washington, DC 20006 them by. At these breakfasts, they are in a somewhat
Antelope Valley Office VA Benefits: Telephone: 202-861-2700 sheltered environment. Juan Blanco, also a veteran, is
U.S. Congressman Mike Garcia, Calif., 25th Dis- 41301 12th St. West, Ste. F Peter Knight Veterans Home of Lancaster Burial, Death Pension, Dependency Indemnity Com- president of Coffee4Vets.
trict Palmdale, CA 93551 The William J. “Pete” Knight Veterans Home of Lan- pensation, Direct Deposit, Directions to VA Benefits Re- Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) The organization can be contacted via email on the
Washington D.C. Office Phone: 661-267-7636 caster is a 60-bed residential care/assisted living facil- gional Offices, Disability Compensation, Disability Pen- www.vfw.org following website: https://coffee4vets.org. The organiza-
1535 Longworth House Office Bldg., Washington, Website: https://ad36.asmrc.org ity, operated in partnership with the VA Greater Los An- sion, Education, Home Loan Guaranty, Medical Care, National Headquarters tion also maintains a Facebook page.
D.C. 20515 Assists veterans with ID cards for the DMV geles Healthcare System. The home provides California 406 West 34th St., Kansas City, MO 64111
Phone: 202-225-1956 Office representatives attend all weekly veterans’ veterans with a living environment that protects their Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Telephone: 816-756-3390 Veteran Peer Access Network
meetings. dignity and contributes to their feeling of self-reliance 1-800-827-1000 VPAN, as it is commonly called, is a community-
Antelope Valley Office and self-worth. Washington Office driven, peer outreach program, which aims to solve
1008 West Avenue M-14, Suite E, Palmdale, CA California Department of Veteran’s Affairs Beneficiaries in receipt of Pension Benefits 200 Maryland Ave., N.E., Washington, D.C. 20002 challenges facing veterans, including homelessness,
93551 The California Department of Veteran’s Affairs (Cal- William J. “Pete” Knight Veterans Home — Lancaster 1-877-294-6380 Telephone: 202-543-2239 unemployment, substance abuse, incarceration and
Phone: 661-839-0532 Vet) offers benefits that could compensate veterans for 45221 30th St. W., Lancaster, CA 93536 suicide – conditions that often afflict service members
Website: https://mikegarcia.house.gov a service-connected disability, college education and Phone: 661-974-7035 Debt Management Center Disabled American Veterans transitioning from military to civilian life. The network
Veteran’s Affairs: Contact Christine Ward, 661-839- health care. They also offer assistance with job training Visit https://www.calvet.ca.gov/VetHomes/Pages/ 1-800-827-0648 www.dav.org deploys trained veteran and military family peers to lo-
0532, email: Christine.Ward@mail.house.gov and job search, buying a home, elder care, and much Lancaster.aspx (Collection of Non-Medical Debts) National Headquarters cate veterans in need of support and intervene before a
Academy Nominations: Contact Tom Dierckman, 661- more. 3725 Alexandria Pike, Cold Spring, KY 41076 crisis erupts, connecting vets to benefits and services.
568-4855, email: Thomas.Dierckman@mail.house.gov Veterans Crisis Line Children of Women Vietnam Veterans (CWVV) Telephone: 1-877 I AM A VET (877-426-2838) James Mumma oversees operations at the Antelope
California Department of Veteran’s Affairs (CalVet) The Veterans Crisis Line is a quick, confidential 877-345-8179 859-441-7300 Valley office which opened its doors in early summer
U.S. Congressman Kevin McCarthy, 23rd District Los Angeles District Office phone resource for veterans who are struggling with 2021.
Washington, D.C. Office 11000 Wilshire Blvd., Room 5203. suicidal thoughts, destructive thought patterns and sub- Foreign Medical Program (FMP) Washington Office Office location: 237 East Avenue M, Lancaster, CA
2468 Rayburn House Office Bldg., Washington, D.C. Los Angeles, CA 90024 stance abuse issues. 1-888-820-1756 807 Maine Ave., S.W., Washington, DC 20024 93535
20515 800-952-5626 to speak with a representative Veterans Crisis Line: 1-800-273-8255 Telephone: 202-554-3501 Phone: 661-268-6739
Phone: 202-225-2915 https://www.calvet.ca.gov/veteran-services-benefits Confidential chat at www.VeteransCrisisLine.net or Civilian Health and Medical Program of the De-
text to 838255 partment of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) Vietnam Veterans of America Homes4Families
Bakersfield Office CalVet Women Veterans Affairs CHAMPVA In-House Treatment Initiative www.vva.org Organization officials develop what they call “Veteran
4100 Empire Drive, STE. 150, Bakersfield, CA 93309 www.calvet.ca.gov/women Department of Financial Protection and Innova- 1-800-733-8387 National Headquarters Enriched Neighborhoods” by constructing new housing
Phone: 661-327-3611 womenveterans@calvet.ca.gov tion 8719 Colesville Rd., Suite 100, Silver Spring, MD tracts, with as many as 50-plus single-family, one-story
Website: https://kevinmccarthy.house.gov 916-653-2327 The Department of Financial Protection and Innova- Education (GI Bill) 20910 houses for purchase by veterans and their families, with
Veteran’s Affairs and Academy Nominations call 661- tion has a veterans Services division that focuses on 1-888-442-4551 Telephone: 301-585-4000 special financing arrangements and required sweat eq-
327-3611 or email: caseworkca23@mail.house.gov Local Resources consumer education regarding mortgages, annuities, Toll Free: 1-800-882-1316 uity, meaning the veterans must volunteer to participate
payday loans, identity theft and other areas of personal Health Care Benefits in the building of homes for other veteran families. The
California State Senate, 21st District — Scott Wilk Antelope Valley College Veterans Affairs Program finance. Fraud prevention is emphasized. 1-877-222-8387 Organizations of the People, By the People, for process involves the use of many volunteers who con-
Capitol Office The Antelope Valley College Veterans Affairs Pro- The Department of Financial Protection and Innova- the Vets tribute their time in the construction phase.
State Capitol, Room 3063 gram provides assistance through education, certifi- tion Smoking Cessation Counselors Home ownership gives the veterans a sense of pride
Sacramento CA 95814 cation and guidance to military veterans and their de- Phone: 866-275-2677 1-855-QUIT-VET (1-855-784-8838) Vets4Veterans Antelope Valley for their accomplishment and paying a mortgage means
Phone: 916-651-4021 pendents in achieving their educational objectives and Website: www.dfpi.ca.gov The grassroots, nonprofit, organization, founded by they are building equity from their own property as op-
works to promote the retention, graduation and transfer Combat Call Center the late Tom Hilzendeger together with other Vietnam posed to renting, which increases a landlord’s equity.
Santa Clarita Office of military veteran students and their dependents. Los Angeles County Bar Association 1-877-WAR-VETS (1-877-927-8387) combat veterans was intended to help veterans suf- Donna Deutchman is president and chief executive
23920 Valencia Blvd., Suite 250 The Los Angeles County Bar Association has legal fering the physical and psychological wounds of war. officer of the Woodland Hills, Calif., organization that is
Santa Clarita CA 91355 Antelope Valley College Veterans Resource Center services available to assist veterans in clearing out- Life Insurance Jack Wolbert is the current president. Nayda creating a community in Palmdale.
Phone: 661-286-1471 3041 W. Ave. K standing tickets, warrants and criminal records. Figueroa, the Community Relations Director, in mid- Phone: 818-884-8808
SSV Bldg, Room 126, Lancaster, CA 93536 Los Angeles County Bar Association Veterans Legal
661- 722-6300 Ext. 6342 Service Project
https://www.avc.edu/studentservices/veterans