A message from the Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services
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MBVS Receives Veterans' Suicide Prevention Grant
The Maine Bureau of Veterans' Services (MBVS) is working with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to prevent veteran suicide in Maine. MBVS recently received $750,000 from VA to support its mission through the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program (SSG Fox SPGP), a three-year program that provides funding to community-based organizations with innovative ideas for preventing
veteran suicide.
“The Bureau is very pleased to receive this grant. It will allow us to make direct and more effective connections for veterans in need of mental health resources and care in our state and it will also allow our Bureau to help veterans in our state access all of the benefits they have earned through their service.” said Director David Richmond, “We are fortunate to have a team of dedicated partners made up of state and federal agencies, non-profit and veterans service organizations, all working hard to end veterans’ suicide—everyone of us knows that this is mission number one and that we must find a way to succeed.”
With its SSG Fox SPGP award, MBVS plans to provide
positive connection to clinical and veterans benefits resources for veterans who are seeking care through medical providers in our state; In short, to provide a warm hand off of the veteran from a medical provider to clinical outpatient support resources as well as assistance from Bureau staff in accessing other federal and state veterans’ benefits.
SSG Fox SPGP honors Veteran Parker Gordon Fox, who joined the Army in 2014 and was a sniper instructor at the U.S. Army Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia. Known for a life of generosity and kindness to others in need, Fox died by suicide on July 21, 2020, at the age of 25. Information on the SSG Fox SPGP can be found at www.mentalhealth.va.gov/ssgfox-grants/.
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October Mobile Homeless Veterans Stand Downs
The Bureau and partner agencies are accepting referrals for this year's Mobile Homeless Veterans Stand Down from community organizations, law enforcement, veterans organizations, medical and mental health providers, friends and family members, and are encouraging veterans to pre-register by calling the Bureau's Homeless Veterans Coordination Team at 207-287-7019
or email HVC.MaineBVS@maine.gov
Each stand down will offer connection to housing, benefits(state and federal), winter clothes and boots, non-perishable food, haircuts, employment opportunities, interaction with community organizations, and a free lunch from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.at the following locations:
- October 5 - Ellsworth in the Reny’s parking lot
(175 High Street).
- October 12 - Togus Campus
(1 VA Center, Augusta).
- October 19 - Portland Hannaford
(295 Forrest Avenue).
- October 26 - Sanford Vet Center
(628 Main Street, Springvale).
Veterans and Family
Outdoor Expo is a Success!
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MBVS co-hosted an event with the Veterans Benefits Administration, VA Maine Healthcare System, and other partner agencies on September 24th in the Cabela's parking lot in Scarborough which was designed to better connect veterans to their state and federal benefits, as well as provide education on the multitude of organizations that offer veterans outdoor activities (hunting, fishing, alternative PTSD therapies, and adaptive sports opportunities). The Sportsman's Alliance of Maine and Maine Vet Centers provided a delicious free lunch and there were multiple raffle drawings for gun safes, and patriotic themed items that were provided courtesy of the
Maine Department of Corrections.
Over a four-hour period 147 veterans and plus more than 150 of their family members, enjoyed learning about all the opportunities there are in Maine to connect to the benefits they earned by serving in the U.S. Military, as well as multiple opportunities to experience the great outdoors which provides a sense of well being and comradery with other veterans and connection to community.
Thanks to all the veterans' organizations who participated - Department of Maine American Legion, VFW Department of Maine, Paralyzed Veterans of America - New England Chapter,
and Maine DAV. Maine based programs - Operation ReBoot OutDoors, House In The Woods, Veterans Upward Bound Maine, Maine Paws for Veterans f/k/a Embrace A Vet, Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, Inc., Vet2Vet Maine, Maine Acupuncture Society, NEADS Assistance Dogs, Travis Mills Foundation, Marine Corps League, Quilts of Valor,
Boothbay V.E.T.S., Project Summit, and Veteran's Adaptive Sports & Training.
And thanks to state and community partners - Maine Department of Public Safety, Maine Department of Labor Veterans Employment Team, 211 Maine, University of Southern Maine, Department of Health and Human Services, Maine Center for Disease Control, Wabanaki Public Health & Wellness, Martin's Point Health Care, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, Bureau Of Motor Vehicles, the Scarborough Maine Police Department, Scarborough, Maine Fire Department, and the Maine National Guard.
Veterans in the Arts
and Humanities Day
The Maine Arts Commission and MBVS will co-host the Veterans in the Arts and Humanities Day celebration at the State House - Hall of Flags in Augusta on November 1, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. This event will feature veteran artists whose art will hang in a show at the Cross Building in Augusta through December. Quilts of Valor will make quilt presentations and the Bureau will unveil its Veterans' Honorable Service Coin and recognize its artist, Georgette Kanach. FMI contact 207-287-7020
or email mainebvs@maine.gov. |
What's Happening
October 5 - Mobile Homeless Veterans Stand Ellsworth in the Reny’s parking lot (175 High Street) from 10:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m.
October 11 - Penobscot Nation Veterans' Claims Clinic at the Nohkomess Lane Elder Apartments from 10:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m. FMI or to register contact Lisa Montgomery (207-631-4545) or email - wabanakitvr@gmail.com.
October 12 - Mobile Homeless Veterans Stand Down at
the Togus Campus (1 VA Center, Augusta) from 10:00 a.m. -
2:00 p.m.
October 19 - Mobile Homeless Veterans Stand Down at the
Portland Hannaford (295 Forrest Avenue) from 10:00 a.m. -
2:00 p.m.
October 26 - Mobile Homeless Veterans Stand Down at the Sanford Vet Center (628 Main St, Springvale) from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Note: All Stand Down events are rain or shine.
November 1 - Veterans in the Arts and Humanities Day celebration at the State House - Hall of Flags in Augusta at
2:00 p.m. co-hosted by MBVS and the Maine Arts Commission. FMI contact 207-287-7020 or email mainebvs@maine.gov.
November 11 - Veterans Day
Southern Maine
Falmouth: Ceremony at the Falmouth Veterans Memorial,
11:00 a.m.
Stars & Stripes Brewing Co., Freeport: Live music and a food truck at veteran-owned and operated brewery that donates a portion of its proceeds to veterans’ organizations and is marking its third anniversary, Noon to 6:00 p.m.
Portland: Small parade from Longfellow Square to City Hall, followed by a wreath laying from 10:30 to 11:00 a.m.
Westbrook: Ceremony at Riverbank Park, 11:00 a.m. to
12:00 p.m.
Thornton Academy, Saco: Ceremony with veterans’ groups from Saco and Biddeford, featuring student music and an alumni speaker from the Travis Mills Foundation, 11:00 a.m.
South Portland: Parade from Southern Maine Community College and Broadway to Mill Creek Park, 10:00 a.m. to
12:00 p.m.
Central Maine
Bates College: Ceremony at Bates Veterans Plaza, led by the Multi-faith Chaplaincy, 9:00 a.m.
Lewiston: Dedication ceremony for a new monument at Veterans Memorial Park, 10:00 -11:30 a.m.; special viewing for a veterans exhibit at Museum L-A, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Augusta: VA Maine Healthcare System (Togus) Veterans Day commemoration 8:00 a.m. at the Flagpole Commons in front of Building 200 (the hospital).
Augusta: Road rally at the Augusta Civic Center from 8:00 - 9:00 a.m.
Bangor & Brewer: Veterans Day parade organized by the Bangor High School Junior ROTC, beginning at Brewer Plaza at 10:15 a.m.
Waterville: Ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park with the American Legion, 11:00 a.m.
Midcoast
Brunswick: Wreath-laying at Veterans Plaza with local American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars groups,
10:45 a.m.
Waldoboro: Local veterans will ring the Revere Bell at the Waldoborough Historical Society museum, 10:30 a.m.
Northern Maine
Caribou: Ceremony at Maine Veterans' Memorial Cemetery,
1:00 p.m.
November 12 – 9th Annual Veterans Day 5K Road Race, Saturday 10:00 – 11:00 a.m., Elks Lodge, 356 Bald Hill Road, Wells, ME. Proceeds benefit Honor Flight Maine. To register online go to RunSignUp.com/Race/ME/Wells/VD5K
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