Groups want local veteran services

A group of residents is working on a plan to bring more services to Sanders County veterans. On Tuesday, David Williams with Joint Operation Mariposa and Sam Redfern with the United States of Hope (USOH) addressed the Sanders County Commissioners with their plan.

Redfern and Williams have been working on projects for veterans for about two years. Now, they are working to a Veteran Service Office (VSO) in Sanders County. Williams said he already has someone willing to donate an office space in Thompson Falls. Now, the group is looking to add members to their committee and raise money for the project. Williams, Redfern and a handful of local veterans met with the county commissioners to discuss the plan. The group is seeking letters of support from groups such as the county commissioners to help in their funding efforts.

Redfern said that about 48% of Sanders County’s population is veterans. His organization, USOH, is based out of Missoula and has 7,5000 members. Of those, 82 are from Sanders County, and 90% of them are veterans.

“There’s no reason veterans shouldn’t have the services they need when they need them,” Williams said. “These are benefits they earned.”

The VSO would offer veteran services for evaluating claims, pensions and war burial benefits and widows. No medical appointments would be offered, but Redfern and Williams stated that having these services available in Sanders County would save hundreds of miles in trips to Missoula, Kalispell or Helena for appointments. Redfern said a VSO is Ravalli County is working well and has a successful model.

Williams envisions the VSO in Sanders County being open 2-3 days a week. While much of the staff will be volunteer, Redfern said in order to be certified and accredited by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the VSO will have at least one paid position, though he is unsure at this time if it will be a full-time or part-time position.

Redfern said the next steps to opening a VSO in Sanders County are fundraising, securing letters of support, having money in the bank and showing a desire to support such a project. Then the veterans will schedule an additional roundtable with the county commissioners. Redfern said his goal is to have a VSO open in Sanders County by January 2020, with the committee set with 7-10 members by Veterans Day, Nov. 11. He said Missoula is also working to open a VSO, adding that Sanders County provides a unique location due to the number of veterans and the proximity to Missoula

Anyone interested in donating, writing a letter of support for the project, or being involved on the committee can contact Williams at (406) 826-2345 or write to Joint Operation Mariposa, PO Box 261, Plains, MT 59859.