News & Releases

Join Team RWB at McGarrey's Oakwood Cafe (1624 W 38th St, Erie, PA) on March 15 from 7-10 pm for some food and drinks. Meet some of the eagles in the chapter, and have a good time! For more information, visit the Team RWB Website.

A Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser will be held at VFW Post 470 (1808 W 26 St, Erie, PA) on March 25 from 1-4 pm to benefit the PA Soldiers' & Sailors' Home. Tickets available at the door: $8 for adults, $3 for children under 6. Take out available. Open to the public.

Are you a Veteran looking for employment? Erie VA Medical Center offers a Job Club EVERY MONDAY from 8:30am-11:30 am in their Behavioral Health Clinic to help you in your job search. Join them this coming Monday for a special guest speaker from the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation. This is open to every Veteran - even if you're not enrolled in VA health care. We'll help you work on your resume, job search, prep for interviews and provide you with support along the way. For questions about the Job Club, call 814-860-2038 and ask to speak with our Vocational Development Specialist.

Your Veteran COAT (Community Outreach & Action Team) will be holding a public forum on Thursday, March 1, 2018, from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm at Gannon University in the Yehl Ballroom. Veterans, Service Members, and their Families are invited to learn more about local resources and to attend the networking and resource fair after the forum. Experts will provide brief overviews of VA Benefits - Claims/Appeals Process, VA Health Care Services, GI Bill/Education Benefits, Erie Team RWB-Social Events, and Opportunities to Get Involved. Bring a copy of your DD-214 to see if you are eligible for various services. For more information, contact Co-Chairs George Tanner at getanner@pa.gov or Thad Plasczynski at tplasczynski@eriecountypa.gov.

The Erie VA Medical Center in partnership with the Pittsburgh Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) Regional Office will be hosting a Veterans Benefits Claims Clinic on Friday, March 2, 2018, from 9 am to noon in their 2nd Floor Conference Rooms. Benefits include compensation, pension and fiduciary, insurance, benefits assistance, education benefits, loans, and more. Several VBA representatives will be on-site to help file a claim, track claim status, and answer questions about VBA related services. Veterans are encouraged to bring their DD-214, service treatment records, and any medical evidence supporting a service-connected claim. For more information about VBA service, please visit www.benefits.va.gov.

The Erie VA Medical Center is holding a Minority Veteran Discussion Panel series in the Erie VAMC 2nd floor conference rooms on Wednesday, February 28 from 10 am to 11:30 am. A guest speaker will participate in each panel to speak about the VA and its services. All Veterans and their families are welcome to attend and are encouraged to provide feedback about their experience at the VA.

On Tuesday, February 27 from 10am-2pm, all Veterans and their families are invited to attend the fair to learn about all the VA programs and services available. The annual Veteran Health Fair will be in the Erie VAMC 2nd Floor Conference Rooms. VA health experts will be on-site, and eligibility representatives will be available to assist Veterans who have never enrolled. For more information, contact Erie VAMC's Health Promotion Program at (814) 860-2695.

On Tuesday, February 27, learn about estate planning fundamentals, long-term care choices, and Aid & Attendance benefit for Veterans and surviving spouses of Veterans. Attends will receive program handouts covering the issues discussed as well as a simple questionnaire that can be returned to C&E to prepare and execute a valid Will and Power of Attorney. The program is offered at two convenient times: Noon to 1:00 pm and 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Juniper Village at Meadville, located at 455 Chestnut Street, Meadville, PA. Please, RSVP to (814) 333-4400 by Friday, February 23 to secure your seat.

As the liaison to local, state and national organizations, Army National Guard Family Assistance is hosting a program on February 28, 2018, from noon to 1:00 pm that you will not want to miss! Learn what programs and assistance are available to ALL branches of the service. Veterans, active duty, and family members are encouraged to attend. The program will be held at Juniper Village at Meadville, located at 455 Chestnut Street, Meadville, PA. RSVP by February 23, 2018, by calling 814-333-4400.

If you are a Veteran business owner or a Veteran who would like to start a business, register for this workshop on February 28, 2018, from 10 am to 11:30 am to learn about regional resources available to help you. The NWPA Veterans Entrepreneurship Program is a free online training program to educate and accelerate the entrepreneurial success of Veterans. To register, please visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NWPAVets. If you have questions, please contact Meghan Keely at meghank@northwestpa.org.