Fall River forms new advisory committee — how this group will help better serve veterans
FALL RIVER — Mayor Paul Coogan, along with Director of Veteran Services Micaila Britto, announced on Thursday the formation of the Veterans’ Advisory Committee and the distribution of $100,000 to 18 local veteran service organizations — a plan the mayor said has been in the works since he came into office.
The mayor made the announcement of the new VAC to a group at the Corky Row Club, noting the city is known for its active support and rich history of assisting military veterans.
“More than monuments or dedications, our strength in supporting veterans comes from groups and individuals like those in the room with us today,” said Coogan. “We are lucky to have a huge coalition of veterans’ service organizations, volunteers and veteran leaders themselves who make sure that our veteran community get the services and recognition they need.”
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An 18-member committee
The VAC will comprise 10 selected members and permanent representatives that will include the city administrator, director of veterans’ services, the executive director of the USS Massachusetts Memorial Association and the City Council’s veterans’ liaison.
The VAC’s members are meant to give advice and recommendations to the city’s veterans' service officer, offer outreach to veterans and their families and address veteran related issues, according to a written release from the administration.
“It’s about outreach to our veteran community and the community in general,” said Britto. “Because you know a veteran, somebody else knows a veteran. And also extending to stakeholders in the community like the Battleship, so we’ll be able to better partner in the effort in helping our veterans.”
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City Administrator Seth Aitken said the VOC will be able to assist veterans and their families who may not have the platform or ability “to come to city hall and say, hey we need help.”
“This is going to be a way to have many arms out in the community and bring in the issues and the messages for what needs to be known,” said Aitken, a military veteran himself.
The first selected members of the VOC include local veterans Emiliano Ramos, Joseph Marshall, Robert Guinen, former City Councilor Trott Lee, Charles Denmead, Anna Martinez-Stanford, Kathy Splinter, Gold Star mother Carlene Barrett and attorney Rene Brown.
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Veteran service organizations get city contributions
Coogan said that all the veteran-centered organizations in the area were included in the $100,000 allocation from the fiscal year 2022 veteran services budget.
Out of the 18 organizations, 16 received a $5,000 allotment, while the Fall River War Veterans Council received a $10,000 allocation. The organization supports and provides services to veterans and Gold Star families.
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In addition, the Veterans’ Kitchen, which operates out of the Corky Row Club, also received a $10,000 allocation.
A volunteer program, Veterans’ Kitchen has served thousands of meals to veterans and their families since it began in October 2018.
Coogan noted that Veterans’ Kitchen instituted a grab-and-go program to continue feeding veterans “during the worst days of the pandemic, so veterans could continue receiving hot, home cooked meals.”
“These funds are going right back into the community and being used for a variety of projects, programs and events to serve our veteran population,” said Coogan.
Jo C. Goode may be reached at jgoode@heraldnews.com. Support local journalism and subscribe to The Herald News today!
This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Fall River forms veteran advisory committee; allots $100k local groups
