Goodwill, in partnership with the Department of Veterans Affairs worked with one another to bring  awareness to retired military workers about the health, education and financial benefits that are available to them. Despite the low turn out, workers are beginning to piece together the puzzle of getting more veterans to take advantage of their benefits.

Local Veteran Benefits Event A Flop

PEORIA– Tuesday, Peoria’s Goodwill teamed up with the Department of Veterans Affairs for the, ‘Understanding Your Veteran Benefits Workshop.’

The event is designed to familiarize retired military with the various forms of aid that are available to them, yet the scheduled workshop brought in zero participants.

Rich Glavin, veteran affairs officer explained, “there are more who don’t know, than those who do. Programs like this are less marketed in the Peoria area.” From health care services to free tuition, many that are entitled to these benefits never receive them. According to Glavin, only an estimated 20 percent of the veterans in the Peoria area are taking advantage of these programs.  The benefits include access to hospitals and clinics, personal physicians, survivor benefits for widows, and the possibility of a 30 percent increase in income if approved.

Although these benefits provide veterans with innumerable resources, they come with their disadvantages. Glavin explained, that unless it is a veteran’s medical facility, easy access to full hospital service can become really difficult to obtain. “Especially in emergency situations, if you end up at a hospital that’s not a veteran’s hospital, you’re left hoping that they will flip the bill,” said Glavin.

Even with its disadvantages, there are still positives to these resources.  However, the lack of attendance at events that set veterans up to receive aid are startling, leading one to question, why?

“Many veterans feel defensive. They don’t want to ask for something they feel they are entitled to. It makes them feel like less of a man,” said Goodwill veterans service manager, Johanna Wagner.  Another reason for the disparity in the use of these resources is because many veterans believe that receiving aid is a sign of weakness, leading them to completely dismiss asking for federal help.

“Programs like this are extremely important, whether they want to admit or not, veterans need them”, said Wagner.  It’s up to the people who are like them to make them feel comfortable . Glavin, who has been giving presentations on veterans benefits since 1988 makes a point to tell everyone he knows about the benefits.

“You never know who needs the information.”  The retired soldier stops anyone he sees with a servicemen hat or shirt.  He makes it a point to let people know, the service is available to them, they, just have to take advantage of it.

Goodwill Still Believes in Helping Veterans Despite Low Turnout 

In light of the low attendance to workshops, Goodwill workers are still looking to help veterans receive all the aid they deserve. Including health care, free tuition and job placement.