Local veterans will get a one-stop opportunity to learn about all the veterans benefits and programs available to them on Tuesday, Feb. 28 at 5:30 p.m. in the University of Maine at Presque Isle’s Campus Center when the members of the newly-organized UMPI Student Veterans Club host a Veterans Information Night. This free event is open to all veterans in Aroostook County.
“We’re hosting this event because we’ve heard from veterans that they don’t know what benefits or programs are available to them until it’s too late to use them,” Kaitlyn Belanger, President of the UMPI Student Veterans Club, said. “There are so many opportunities available to veterans through local organizations. Getting that information to those who need it proves to be one of our greatest obstacles, but by gathering a group of knowledgeable speakers, we’re hoping to facilitate the dissemination of a lot of good and important information.”
The event will include presentations delivered by representatives with the Maine Department of Labor, United Veterans of Maine, the Bureau of Maine Veterans’ Services, and the VFW. In addition, information tables will be set up to provide details about organizations such as the Maine Military and Community Network, the Presque Isle Career Center, the Marine Corps League, Disabled American Veterans, and the American Legion.
The UMPI Student Veterans Club was founded in September 2016 to help not only veterans on campus, but also their families, as well as students interested in learning more about military life post-graduation. The club’s goal is to create a support system for the military community on campus, as well as to reach out to the greater military community in Aroostook County through events such as this information night.
Belanger said the Veterans Club hopes this event will encourage some of the area’s younger veterans to become involved in local veteran organizations.
“We’re hoping that by providing information about these groups to a new generation of veterans, we can add new energy to groups like the VFW and keep those veterans communities vibrant and robust,” she said.
The snow date for this event is Tuesday, March 21. For more information, contact Belanger at kaitbelanger@gmail.com.