Greene County Veteran’s Service Agency (Tyler Lynch, Director) at 300 Route 23B, Leeds

The agency. The mission: "Our agency is dedicated to providing the highest quality service to veterans and their families in Greene County." The agency falls under the Department of Human Services (Executive Director Amanda Lyons; Director of Aging Services Danielle Kane-Wade), and its pages say it will "Educate Veterans and their families about the benefits they have earned; Represent and guide Veterans in obtaining benefits and services both through the VA and other local agencies; Make Veterans an economic force in education, employment and business development." The staff are accredited "veteran service officers; as such, they are able to guide veterans and their families in submitting claims to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)." Where and who. Veteran's Service Agency, 300 Route 23B, Leeds NY 12451; t. 518-943-3703, f. 518-943-1928, [email protected]; Director Tyler Lynch, Deputy Director Arin VanDemark (VanDemark is also the Vet2Vet point of contact, 518-719-0020). The Department of Human Services sits at 411 Main Street, Suite 247, Catskill (518-719-3555). The State Department of Veterans' Services' directory still prints the agency at 159 Jefferson Heights, Suite D-303, Catskill - the address the agency's own 2023 annual report used under then-Director Michelle Deyo - while the county's current pages give 300 Route 23B, Leeds; call before travelling (gap in docs/COUNTY-REVISIT.md). Vet2Vet. "Greene County Vet2Vet: Joseph P Dwyer Veterans Peer Support Project - The mission of Greene County VET2VET operating under the NYS Joseph P Dwyer Program, is to provide peer support to veterans and their families, raise awareness about the unique struggles veterans face, and build a stronger veteran community with camaraderie and mutual support... The program is 100% confidential and FREE and it provides non-clinical support and advocacy... by connecting them to resources such as benefits (SSI, SSD, service connection), food pantries, housing assistance, social activities and much more." The rides and the funds. The Veteran Benefits page: "Greene Veteran's Service Agency provides medical transportation for eligible veterans to appointments at the Albany Stratton VA Medical Center between the times of 8am and 12pm weekdays, holidays excluded... Transportation is on a first come first serve basis, seating is limited and must be reserved at least one week prior to the appointment." The same page carries the Children of Veterans Scholarship Fund - "This local fund provides scholarship assistance to eligible children of veterans residing in Greene County. Funding levels and application periods vary annually" - and "a regularly updated list of food assistance programs, housing referrals, and nonprofit resources available to veterans and families in need." The ceremonies. "Greene County Veterans Service Agency hosts two events each year; the Honor a Vet Memorial Ceremony, held in May, and the Greene County Veteran of the Year Ceremony, held in November" - the Memorial Ceremony a posthumous award typically held on Armed Forces Day, nominations due the third Tuesday in March; the Veteran of the Year Ceremony typically the first Saturday in November, nominations due the Tuesday after Labor Day. The Cards for Veterans programme - Valentines for Veterans "was so successful, it is now done year-round... For those months without an official holiday, we go with a monthly theme" - takes cards at the agency for the county's six veterans facilities, Greene Meadows, The Pines at Catskill and The Eliot at Catskill among them.