This past week Peggy Baker, Founder of Operation First Response, shared about OFR's mission to serve all branches of our nation’s Wounded Heroes/Disabled Veterans and their families with personal and financial needs. Click here to view the full length call notes or click here to be directed to their website. PRESENTATION SUMMARY: OperationFirst Response is a direct service organization that assists with personalneeds and gives emergency financial aid such as utilities, mortgages, vehiclerepairs, rent, etc. Servesnationwide, all branches, all conflicts! Veteran Eligibility: Must have apending case of VA disability or a disability rating with VA of at least 10% VA paperworkshowing established rating or pending rating VA ID or DD 214 –unable to assist if dishonorable discharge Do not haveto be injured in combat, do not have to have been deployed OFR receives 30-50 assistance applications a day--most, if not all, being an emergency situation For thoseunable to support financially, do their best to direct to other organizationsthat will be able to provide assistance Try to payvendor directly in most if not all cases Servicemembers and veterans who are seeking assistance will be responded to in 24 hrs Programs Available Include: MilitaryFamily Assistance program helps with alleviatingfinancial difficulties for service members, veterans, and their familiesthrough providing emergency financial aid Last MissionProject is a current goal of the OFR tobe able to serve veterans and their families financially when they are in the recoveryprocess, receiving in house care BackpackProgram to send backpacks with needed itemsto service members in combat support hospitals Walk for theWounded as one of the signature events along with Warriors 5K that bring infunds to support program and veterans EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS: There isa power wheelchair donation available! B2B volunteer Ron
Springer hasdetails on location and current ownership. The chair would need to be picked upand transported. Contact staff if you know of someone who would benefit fromthis device (it’s worth $6,000) There are currently limited careeropportunities available with the Social Security Administration of Michigan. They are looking for well qualified Claims Specialist andCustomer Service Representative candidates that qualify for our VeteransRecruitment Authority and Schedule A direct hiring authorities. Moreinformation can be found at https://www.ssa.gov/careers/veterans.html B2B has anew Volunteer Supplies Catalog to aid in the re-ordering of supplies foroutreach events! Click here to view the document, which lists commonly used items, now with handyordering “codes.” Contact the new Outreach Coordinator (to be announced thisweek!) for needed supplies. Free dental care for veterans! On Saturday June 24th, Aspen Dental is holding a national day of service. Filling, extractions, basic dental care for veterans. If interested call 1-800-ASPEN-HMM to make an appointment Lastly, please remember to submit your interaction drill/event, or No Activity logs by clicking here. Thank you for all that you do! Heidi Frankenhauser Volunteer Coordinator
Buddy-to-Buddy Volunteer Veteran Program 1-888-822-8339 | buddytobuddyvvp@umich.edu | www.buddytobuddy.org 2025 Traverwood Dr., Suite C | Ann Arbor | MI | 48105 STAY CONNECTED