Grundy County Veterans Assistance Commission (Ken Buck, Superintendent) and the homeless-veterans mission

The commission. The county's Veteran's Assistance page: "The Grundy County Veterans Assistance Commission (GCVAC) is an independent county commission that is operated by and for veterans for the purpose of promoting the welfare of honorably discharged veterans of military service, and their families; to act as a central service office for all veteran organizations and to assist with all VA claims work referred to the commission by member organizations and the community; and to have general oversight of the distribution of all relief and supplies that may be appropriated for the benefit of military veterans and their families." Contact: Ken Buck, Superintendent of Veteran's Assistance Commission, phone (815) 941-3152, fax (815) 513-5018, [email protected], 1320 Union St., Morris, IL 60450; office hours Monday-Friday 9am-12pm/1-4pm. The services. "We offer free assistance with the following federal, state and local Veterans benefits: Assistance with enrollment in the VA health care system; Assistance with applying for VA compensation claims (for service connected illness or injury); Assistance in applying for VA disability pensions for wartime veterans and their surviving spouses; Non-emergency transportation to and from U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Centers; Financial Assistance for eligible veterans and dependents for basic needs; VA Educational Benefits (GI Bill); Burial Benefits to include grave markers; Military record retrieval; Referral to other program and services to include those offered by the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs (IDVA) and other Will & Grundy County agencies." The member organizations. The VAC Boards Members page: "The Grundy County veteran's service organizations that are members of this commission are: Mazon American Legion #352, Morris American Legion #294, Morris AMVETS #0053, Coal City VFW #1336, Disabled American Veterans #86, Minooka American Legion Post #1188." The page adds the service rule: "The majority of veterans programs and services require active service in the United States Armed Forces and whose last discharge from the service was Honorable. The Veteran MUST provide proof of service and honorable discharge when requesting service or when enrolling into programs (DD-214 or other official discharge documents - we can assist in getting these records)." The homeless-veterans mission. The Homeless Veterans page: "To end Veteran homelessness in Grundy County in accordance with the criteria established by the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, Housing & Urban Development, and Veterans Health Administration and connect Veterans, at risk of homelessness, to services to help them remain in permanent housing." "Grundy County VAC will work internally and with community-based organizations, such as other homeless service organizations, health care providers, law enforcement, townships, religious organizations and other agencies to identify Veterans experiencing homelessness and connect them to appropriate housing and other services." For an emergency: 1-877-424-3838 press 1, or veteranscrisisline.net. The Veterans Suicide Prevention Coalition page: "If you know of a Veteran who is contemplating suicide, contact the Veterans Crisis Line: 988 Press 1, or text to 838255."