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The Staten Island Service Member/Veterans and Families (SMVF) Newsletter
January 2025
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Welcome to the SMVF newsletter, which provides listings of resources and events important to the Staten Island community of Veterans and Active-Duty Service Members. If you know of someone who is interested in receiving this newsletter, they can sign up at statenislandpps.org/veterans. | |
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End Veteran Debt
On January 1st, 2025, SI PPS will launch a fundraising campaign to forgive $1 million in Veteran debt and generate $15K to support the Staten Island Veteran and Active Duty Community. The campaign is made possible and inspired by partnering with End Veteran Debt, (EVD) a 501 (c)(3) charitable foundation.
EVD was founded by Jerry Ashton, a Navy Veteran Journalist. Jerry was co-founder and Executive VP of the highly successful 501(c)(3) charity RIP Medical Debt, which, to date, has forgiven nearly $15 billion in medical debt. In this role, he was surprised to see veteran medical debt in the huge portfolios of debt that RIP purchased from debt buyers, which inspired him to launch Operation Debt-Day on June 6th, 2024.
On June 6th, 1944, American and Allied forces landed in Normandy to liberate Europe. On June 6th, 2024, Operation Debt- Day was launched to liberate Veterans from Debt and reduce Veteran suicide.
If you are interested in learning more about the SI PPS/EVD partnership and donating to this campaign, click here.
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Staten Island puts into practice the principle of “think global – act local”
“The moment I first learned about Operation Debt-Day and the collaboration between the Veteran Task Force of SI PPS and End Veteran Debt (EVD),” said Alex Marrocco, President and Director of the Road Home Foundation for Injured Warriors and Families, “I was all-in.”
“First, the cause of reducing Veteran suicide by relieving past and current debt burdens for these returned heroes is consistent with our mission and purpose. Secondly, EVD’s unique model of combining funding with awareness raising we feel could attract local and national interest in Road Home.”
Since its launch as a 501(c)(3) public charity in 2014, Road Home has raised and spent over $320,000 to give wounded Veterans and their families much-needed financial grants. Unfortunately, the number of Veterans and active-duty military who could benefit from this help has multiplied over that time.
“We need to treble donations to meet that need,” Alex added. “We won’t do that using yesterday’s marketing or social media skills, and that’s where EVD excels.”
Road Home stepped up to become the first SI PPS Veteran Task Force organization affiliate to donate $2,500 towards the $50,000 campaign goal and becoming the first member of the “Five-Percenter-Plus-Club.” This added lift-off heat to the site’s “thermometer” tracking contributions. When this goal is reached, the $50,000 will buy and eliminate $1,000,000 in Veteran debt nationally and release funds locally to support community efforts.
Not just past debts but here-and-now financial crises will be addressed.
Road Home operates on four principles:
1. Commitment.
2. Transparency.
3. Accountability.
4. Education.
The first three principles were already shared in the DNA of EVD and Road Home. The challenge was how to partner in putting the fourth principle, education, to work. It is easy to see how relieving a Veteran or family member of past unpaid bills is a good thing. However, educating someone on how to deal with an immediate financial problem, or better yet, how to avoid the problem to begin with is even better.
To that end, Road Home and EVD are conducting once-monthly educational seminars through March. The first is How to Handle Calls and Communications from Debt Collectors. Given today’s economic climate, this is a timely subject. Nationally known industry experts will participate in this online webinar during the third week of this month to provide financial do’s and don’ts essential to Veterans and their families' survival.
Click here to sign up for the webinar.
Click here to donate to the SI SIPPS/EVD Operation Debt-Day Campaign.
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Northwell Military Liaison Services
Northwell Health is New York State's largest health care provider and one of the nation’s top employers for military veterans and families. We are dedicated to meeting the unique need of veterans, service members and their families. Our services include but are not limited to: life after service, women's services, and pay differential program.
For more information about our services, click here.
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Free Healthy Foods
NeOn Nutrition Kitchen is providing free packaged groceries, produce and dairy to veterans every Friday from 10:00 am- 1:00 pm.
340 Bay Street, Staten Island, 10301
Learn more here.
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VA Staff Sergeant Fox Suicide Prevention Program
You served us, now let us serve you.
Our suicide prevention program services provide assistance to military personnel and their families. We offer veterans and their loved ones tender loving care and a listening ear.
All services are provided free of charge for eligible veterans through the Department of Veterans Affairs.
To learn more about the program and how to get involved, click here.
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Treatment for Justice-Involved Veterans
VA Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Centers are recruiting eligible Veterans to participate in a research study on treatment for Veterans involved with the criminal justice system.
Learn more here.
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NYU Langone Military Family Center: Caring for military families coping with the invisible wounds of war
Our clinicians at NYU Langone Military Family Center can support you and your family in addressing the needs and challenges associated with military service and life transitions. We offer high-quality, accessible, integrated mental health care, which are free and confidential.
We provide assistance with both physical and psychological concerns, including depression, anxiety, PTSD, traumatic brain injury, substance abuse, and more. Our services include, but are not limited to, individual, couples and family therapy, medication management, and support groups.
To find out more about our services, click here.
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Edge4Vets
Edge4Vets is conducted by the Human Resiliency Institute at Fordham in the Gabelli School of Business. This program provides veterans with what they need most: support in translating their military skills into tools for civilian success.
Edge4Vets connects veterans with hiring managers at partner companies for jobs that can lead to careers.
For more information, click here.
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1 Soldier, 1 Dog, 1 Team
What We Do:
1 Soldier 1 Dog 1 Team rescues shelter dogs and matches them with a Veteran and/or First Responder suffering from PTSD.
Learn more here.
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Priority One
If you have served at least one day in the active military, naval, or air service, including the Reserves and National Guard, you and your spouse are eligible for priority of service.
Our Veteran Specialists are available to help you with training and benefits, job-readiness workshops, and more!
Learn more here.
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Nourish the Service Essentials Market, Blue Star Families
Family Meeting Center - Fort Wadsworth
2nd Floor
455 USS Tennessee Rd.
Staten Island, NY 10305
2nd & 4th Wednesday of every month
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Questions? Contact Consuela Rodriguez at (904) 309-1817 or via email at crodriguez@bluetstarfam.org.
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God's Love We Deliver
God's Love We Deliver is the leading Medically Tailored
Meal (MTM) provider in New York State. We have over 39 years of experience feeding,
nourishing, and improving the health and well-being of individuals living with severe illness.
Proudly serving home-delivered medically tailored meals to Veterans, their dependents, and their caregivers. You have served our country, now let us serve you!
God's Love has no religious affiliation; we serve all clients from diverse backgrounds. All
of our services are provided free to clients and full of love.
To learn more, click here.
For the latest newsletter, click here.
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Staten Island Performing Provider System
1 Edgewater Plaza, Suite 700, Staten Island, NY 10305
(917) 830-1140
SIPPS-contactus@northwell.edu
www.statenislandpps.org
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