Monthly event will provide “one-stop shopping” to help veterans learn about and take advantages of services tailored to their needs
Huntington Station – The Town of Huntington, in partnership with Suffolk County, held the first of a scheduled monthly Veterans Services Day at the Huntington Opportunity Resource Center September 9, offering veterans in the Town the opportunity to learn about and take advantage of services available to them by visiting a central location.
Twenty-three service providers from the public, private and not-for-profit sectors were on hand to offer assistance on issues ranging from food, shelter and health care to legal services, job counseling and educational programs.
“We have wonderful county and not-for-profit services all over Suffolk County to service our veterans, but this thing about it is, sometimes transportation is an obstacle, and sometimes, they don’t know what they don’t know,” said Huntington Councilwoman Tracey A. Edwards, who has been the driving force behind the Opportunity Resource Center. “We are going to make sure that we are bringing all the services to Huntington, and Huntington veterans will be able to just come here and go from table to table and room to room to get all of their needs fulfilled.”
“Veterans need to come close. They need to be home, near where they live,” Huntington Supervisor Frank P. Petrone said during a ceremony announcing the program. Speaking of veterans, he said, “They are not going to go far because they are not people who put their hand out. It is our job to make it easier for them, to provide the opportunity, to just have them come in.”
Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone spoke of the sacrifices veterans and their families have made, especially veterans who have served abroad. “What is our obligation when they return home here? For those of us who did not sacrifice in that way, our obligation is to them and their families, to make sure that we are doing everything we can to help them,” he said. “This is a model, and we need to be doing more of it.”
The agencies represented at the first Veterans Services Day included American Legion Greenlawn Post 1244, Angels for Warriors, Assurance Wireless, EOC of Suffolk SSVF Program, Grant Associates Inc., Hope for Warriors, Long Island Cares, National Grid, New York Legal Assistance Group, Northport Veterans Affairs Medical Center, PFC Joseph Dwyer Peer Supports Project, PSEG LI Consumer Advocate, Services for the Underserved, St. Joseph’s College Military and Veterans Affairs, Suffolk County Bar Association, Suffolk County Department of Labor, Suffolk County Department of Social Services, Suffolk County Police Department, Suffolk County Veterans Agency, Supportive Services for Veterans & Families/Black Veterans for Social Justice Inc., United Way Vet’s Build, United Veterans Beacon House and Veterans Alliance of Long Island.
County Legis. Steve Stern, chairman of the Veterans Committee, said, “We are bringing outstanding professionals together to see meaningful results. That’s what you see here today. It will continue to give us the opportunity to serve those who have served us.”
“Having all of the not-for-profits and all the organizations in one location is a great opportunity for our veterans,” said Councilwoman Susan A. Berland. “Now we need to reach out to our veterans, tell them they need to come here on Veterans Services Day and bring five of their veteran friends. It is up to each of us to spread the word and make sure veterans come so they can take advantage of all the opportunities we have to offer here.”
The Huntington Opportunity Resource Center is located at 1264 New York Avenue. The Veterans Services Day hours will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The next scheduled days are October 14, November 4 and December 9.
In the photo (l-r): Capt. Brendan Forte, Suffolk County Police Department; Greenlawn American Legion Post 1244 acting adjutant Edward O’Shea; County Legis. Steve Stern, Councilwoman Susan A. Berland, County Executive Steve Bellone; Councilwoman Tracey A. Edwards; Supervisor Frank P. Petrone; Suffolk County Labor Commissioner Frank Nardelli, Beth Murphy, senior deputy commissioner, Suffolk County Labor Department; Greenlawn American Legion Post 1244 finance officer Bob Santo.