Department of Indiana launches Operation: Resource Ready, which brings Indiana American Legion staff and senior leadership in front of members and non-members to connect them with benefits assistance and community resources.
A year-long attempt to bring statewide American Legion programs and assistance, as well as awareness about the organization, kicked off Oct. 24 at American Legion Post 492 in West Lafayette, Ind. The Department of Indiana’s Operation: Resource Ready made its debut at a full post, bringing Indiana American Legion staff and senior leadership in front of both members and non-members, and their families, to connect them with benefits assistance and community resources.
American Legion Department of Indiana Commander Ron Hoaks said the idea behind Operation: Resource Ready came from Department Service Officer Joe Williams, who got assistance in developing it via a collaboration between Department of Indiana Assistant Adjutant Jennifer Tyler and Hilary Ott, director of the Indiana American Legion Foundation.
“This was something they’d been kicking around for a while,” Hoaks said. “They put it together, and we made it come to fruition.”
The purpose of Operation: Resources Ready is multi-faceted, including:
· Bring benefits education, American Legion-accredited assistance, and community resources closer to veterans and their families.
· Establishing The American Legion as the organization people think to contact when a veteran needs help, with an active referral network available year-round.
· Building on relationships with both the Indiana and U.S. Departments of Veterans Affairs, and other state agencies, as well as strengthening work with community partners.
· Ensuring veterans are aware of available benefits and assisting in navigating the path to secure them.
· Bringing resources to veterans in rural areas and bringing services closer to where they live – including those not a part of The American Legion.
“The concept is we want to make a warm handshake with the community, rather than to wait for them to come through the door. And have them and their families understand that this organization is here for you,” Hoaks said. “A lot of people may not want to go to their county veterans service office. But they’ll come to somewhere local, and they can bring their families. And you don’t have to belong to the Legion. We’re just there for all of our veterans and their families.”
During the course of the event, Indiana American Legion Rehabilitation Director Bryce Hullett provided a slide presentation on VA compensation, pension, and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation for surviving family members, as well as discussing VA healthcare eligibility.
Both Hullett and Williams were able to provide individual assistance to more than a dozen veterans in attendance, while other veterans and caregivers were provided advice and the opportunity to make appointments for further assistance.
“We had guys walk in and join the Legion who had never walked into the Legion before,” Hoaks said. “They saw this, and they wanted to learn more about it and see what benefits they could actually apply for.”
Tippecanoe County Veteran Service Officer Susie Brown also was on hand to answer questions, discuss local resources and schedule follow-up appointments. Information was provided on suicide prevention programs and caregiver support. And for veterans seeking employment assistance, resources were available through the Indiana Department of Workforce Development’s Disabled Veterans’ Outreach Program.
Hoaks, who praised both Indiana 2nd District leadership and Post 492 for their support, said the next Operation: Resource Ready event is scheduled for Nov. 14 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at American Legion Post 64 in Indianapolis; similar events will take place in every Department of Indiana district.
Hoaks plans on attending every one of them. “I believe this is fantastic,” he said. “I’m all about the networking myself. The leadership, we’ve got to get out to our posts. And we’re sharing what we do. I’ve always said is The American Legion is the veterans’ best-kept secret. They don’t always understand what we do for our communities – not just for veterans, but what we do for our communities. And we’re just trying to push that.
“We’ve just had so much go on just this year. People having eight feet of water in their homes (during historic August flooding). The winds up north that blew trees through their roof or blew their roofs off, and (a post) being somewhere to go for supplies or get a warm meal because you haven’t had power in two weeks. Just that kind of stuff I think we need to get out there more.”
- Veterans Benefits