VFW Post 3641 members in Pueblo, Colorado, hosted nine veterans during their fifth annual Homeless Veterans Fair on May 3.
With tents scattered around the Post’s outdoor area, low income and homeless veterans in attendance were treated to several services provided by Post 3641’s members and volunteers as part of their initiative to mind the gap.
“We are here to fill a gap the best we can and it's not perfect, but, we have people who are in need that we can provide some resolutions to some of their needs,” Post 3641 Commander Fred Gauna said.
At the Post’s fifth annual Homeless Veterans Fair, all veterans who participated were treated to free haircuts, health checks, warm meals and food pantry items to take with them for later.
“We also had vendors that offered free government phones, Medicare assistance and education opportunities,” Gauna said. “Our Post VSO was also there to offer assistance on compensation claims.”
Guana added that because his Post is very community-oriented, the VFW not only hosted veterans in need, but registered more than 66 other low income and homeless participants in providing them with these services free of charge.
“Attendees were appreciative, thankful, hopeful and skeptical,” Guana said. “Skeptical in that they were unsure on what services they could receive. We were glad to be able to provide all of them with these services.”
The next Homeless Veterans Fair at Post 3641 is slated for May 2.