Veterans fair brings resources together

NORWALK — Veterans and their families will have an opportunity to connect with more than 30 organizations in one place when the Veterans Empowerment Fall Fair returns to the Huron County Fairgrounds. The free event will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, in the fairgrounds' Expo Building. It is open to the public. Thomas Price, a Huron County Veteran Service Commission commissioner and Veterans of Foreign Wars representative, said the idea is to bring together organizations that can help veterans with needs ranging from health care and employment to education, insurance and other services. Participating groups will include organizations that hire veterans, veterans groups, nursing homes and agencies that provide services to veterans. Several colleges also are expected to participate. The event has grown since the commission began hosting it four years ago, Price said. More than 30 organizations are expected to participate this year, each offering something that could be useful to veterans or their families. Rather than requiring veterans to contact individual agencies on their own, Price said the fair is intended to function as a "one-stop shop" where they can explore assistance with medical care, insurance, employment, education and other needs. He said Huron County has roughly 4,500 veterans, and some may not realize what programs or services are available to them. The fair focuses on several broad areas, including wellness, finances, housing and home needs, personal growth and other life resources. Price said the event also demonstrates that the Veteran Service office's work extends beyond helping veterans file claims with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. His hope is that veterans leave knowing the office is willing to help connect them with resources they may not have known were available. "The office is willing to go that extra mile to help them," Price said. "That's what we're doing by bringing these organizations in." He said assistance available through participating organizations could help veterans find services or potentially reduce some of the costs they face. "We're here to help them, not only file their claim, but to show them that there are other things that we can help them with," Price said.