|
|
View as Webpage
 Quarterly Newsletter - April 2025
Letter from the Director
It's been a busy start to the year at Veterans Services. Our new Community Outreach Specialist, Dan Zar, and new Veteran Service Officer, Jeremy Binder, have joined our team.
We have heard great things from our disabled veterans in the community who are enjoying our biweekly house cleaning services. We have had so many requests for this service that we are booked for this year and are starting a wait list application for 2026! Our partnership with My Community Dental Centers is also popular with 106 veterans receiving free dental exams and X-rays so far this year. We have a full list of upcoming dental days on our Facebook page and information on how to sign up.
Ryan Grams
Director, Kent County Veterans Services
|
Staff Completes Spring Conference Training
Two of our staff members just completed Spring Training at the Michigan Association of County Veterans Counselors conference in Grand Rapids. Almost 100 people from across Michigan took part in the event.
Amanda Lake, one of our clerks and emergency relief coordinators, joined Veteran Services officer Theresa Ergang for the training, to stay up to date on the latest when it comes to helping better serve our local veterans. We appreciate their involvement in continued education!
|
Save the Date: Homeless Veteran Stand Down
We are looking for volunteers and vendors to help with our annual Homeless Veteran Stand Down, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. This event, on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025 from 10am - 2pm, will be located behind our building at 1222 Bradford St NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503. Volunteers will set up tables and chairs, direct veterans, and hand out items.
If you are interested in volunteering, please complete this form. There will be organizations helping veterans with benefit claims, health care, housing solutions, employment, substance use treatment, and mental health counseling.
|
Burial Assistance
 Did you know that our team provides access to burial benefits for deceased veterans or a veteran's deceased spouse? Kent County can pay $300 to eligible applicants to offset the cost of a veteran's burial, as well as an $80 reimbursement to eligible applicants for the placement of the free VA headstone or marker. You can read more about this program on our website.
Attending Community Events
We also want to thank the Kentwood Parks and Recreation Department for hosting the Spotlight on Seniors Expo on April 15. Members of our team spoke to nearly 300 people about the services we offer. We met with some veterans and their spouses who may me eligible for benefits they didn't know about. If you are hosting a community event that you think we could have a booth at, please email our Community Outreach Specialist for consideration.
|
Spring Cleaning Donations Needed
Are you Spring cleaning around the house and have stuff to donate? Community Rebuilders is looking for items in good condition like couches, mattresses, beds, and small kitchen appliances.
Community Rebuilders collects the items for homeless youth, individuals, families and veterans in Kent County. You can see a full list of items needed here. Call 616-430-3551 to schedule a pick-up.
|
Upcoming Events
|
|
|
|
