Goodwill Manasota celebrates veterans with informational Veterans Resource Fair

Sarasota Herald-Tribune
·2 min read
Goodwill Manasota will present a Veterans Resource Fair on Friday starting at 10 a.m. From left, Goodwill Manasota team members Randy Wright, Richard Burger, mascot Goodwilly, vice president Margie Genter, and Veterans Services program manager Todd Hughes.
Goodwill Manasota will present a Veterans Resource Fair on Friday starting at 10 a.m. From left, Goodwill Manasota team members Randy Wright, Richard Burger, mascot Goodwilly, vice president Margie Genter, and Veterans Services program manager Todd Hughes.

In recognition of Veterans Day, Goodwill Manasota will host a Veterans Resource Fair on Friday to provide veterans and their families information about year-round services available in the community.

Goodwill's American Veterans and Their Families Program offers multiple programs and services to assist veterans with their re-entry into civilian life. The Veterans Resource Fair will take place at the Veterans Services office, 8940 Lockwood Ridge Road, Sarasota, from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.

A focus will be digital navigator services provided by The Patterson Foundation’s Digital Access for All initiative. The Foundation will have a team of “digital navigators” on-site to help people who may be eligible apply for free or discounted internet and broadband services via the Affordable Connectivity Program.

Guests can also receive assistance with new device setup and use, device and internet security, virtual meeting programs such as Facetime and Zoom, and social media platforms such as Facebook through a partnership with Sarasota County. The Sarasota Technology Users Group, which provides free or low-cost devices (laptops, tablets and/or cell phones), will be on hand to assist participants.

Other community partners that will be in attendance to share information include:

• Acupuncture Anywhere: Acupuncture services.

• Everglades University: College-level education and GI Bill information.

• Manatee Technical College: Technical education and GI Bill information.

• SRQ Vets: Connections to community resources and VA claim information.

"Our Veterans Services team is staffed by veterans who understand the challenges of the military to civilian transition," Goodwill Manasota president and CEO Donn Githens said. "In order to provide the wide continuum of care required by veterans, it takes a village. We are grateful to our community partners who are participating in the event as well as the generous donors and caring volunteers who support us throughout the year in serving our heroes."

To learn more about Goodwill Manasota's American Veterans and Their Families Program, visit experiencegoodwill.org/veteransservices or contact Veterans Services program manager Todd Hughes at 941-355-2721, ext. 454, or todd.hughes@gimi.org.

Submitted by Sharon Kunkel 

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Goodwill Manasota to hold resources fair in support of Veterans Day