Veterans connected with healthcare, benefits and community resources at VHSO’s annual summit in Northwest Arkansas
Recently, the Veterans Healthcare System of the Ozarks (VHSO) transformed into a “hospital without walls.” Nearly every VHSO program and service was represented, with staff members stationed throughout the Botanical Gardens of the Ozarks. Veterans, caregivers and family members had the chance to connect directly with healthcare providers and support staff in an inspiring outdoor setting.
Community partners and comprehensive resources
The event featured a strong collaboration with community partners, offering information and resources on a range of topics:
- Food and nutrition
- Outdoor adventure activities
- Educational opportunities
- Suicide prevention
- Veteran benefits
- Housing assistance
- Equine therapy
- Service dog resources
More than 112 booths were available for more than 580 attendees, making it one of the most comprehensive outreach events in the region.
Veterans’ reactions: Discovering new support
Marine Veteran Lucien Fosdick expressed surprise at the sheer variety of services available.
“It’s going to take me two weeks to go through my bag of information. I’ve been using VA for years and had no idea how many different services there are for Veterans,” he said.
Annual summit grows each year
The summit, now in its fifth year, is held every September at the Botanical Gardens of the Ozarks in support of Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. Its purpose is to gather resources and bring together Veterans, reminding all that no one is alone.
“VHSO offers a wide variety of mental health, whole health and specialized healthcare services to care for the whole person. We want to help Veterans thrive in their community. This event gives them an opportunity to learn just how much support is available,” said VHSO Local Recovery Coordinator Allison Wright.
Positive impact and community growth
The event’s popularity continues to grow, thanks to increased community involvement and enthusiastic feedback from attendees.
“It’s astonishing how much information is available at this resource fair. This one-stop event is the best opportunity to learn about services. It’s fun, it’s all in one location, and I get to see my fellow Veterans. It doesn’t get better than that,” said Army Veteran Debra Holmes.
Year-round support for Veterans
If you missed the event, VHSO encourages all Veterans to visit any VA facility to ask questions, learn about available services and receive support. Whether at the main hospital or out in the community, VHSO is always here to serve the nation’s heroes.
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