We Remain Open to Serve Veterans
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At the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans, we are keenly aware of the many struggles Veterans are experiencing as we cope with the impacts of the COVID-19 emergency. MACV continues to operate and serve Veterans, delivering our services through phone, email, and virtual meeting spaces whenever possible.
Changes to our “new normal” are causing several closures and restrictions that are creating additional barriers to Veterans experiencing homelessness. These Veterans and their families may be struggling to work or gain access to the resources they need.
Our Veterans remain resilient, yet they often live at the low end of financial security and face challenges finding or maintaining safe housing. While it is responsible to remain physically distant at this time, we would like to show our Veterans that they continue to be an important part of our communities.
In addition to our direct services, there are a growing number of benefits and resources becoming available for those most impacted. We are assembling a growing list of resources and information which is available on our website at
www.mac-v.org/covid19
.
Our entire staff is ready to assist virtually while we continue to comply with the mitigation strategies set by our state and federal leadership.
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The American Legion, the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans and the Minneapolis VA Medical Center recently teamed up to help and support a long-haul trucker and Army veteran who was suffering from a life-threatening health problem.
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On March 12th, MACV President and CEO, Neal Loidolt went on air with radio host Matt McNeil from AM950 to discuss MACV's mission and the different services we provide to Minnesota Veterans and their families.
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Meet our new Metro Regional Leader
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We are excited to announce that Shannon Gregory joined the MACV team this week. Shannon comes to us from Xcel Energy where he worked as a Program Manager. He is a Marine Corps and Army Veteran who served a total of 25 years of active and reserve duty. Shannon served as an Infantry Marine Noncommissioned Officer, an Army warrant officer and commissioned officer pilot, flying the UH-60A/L/M. He has a Master of Business Administration from the Carlson School, University of Minnesota and is currently a Policy Fellow at the Hubert Humphrey School of Public Affairs.
Shannon enjoys running, biking, cooking and helicopter flying. He resides in Brooklyn Park with his wife and teenage son, where he serves on the City of Brooklyn Park Budget Advisory Commission.
Welcome to the Team Shannon!
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All MACV events statewide, including legal clinics, have been canceled until further notice.
If you are a veteran or know a veteran who is need of legal assistance, please contact our Vetlaw office at 651-200-4750.
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Paul Dietz, Uptown VFW General Manager
Throughout the year and especially now during this period of social distancing, the
kitchen staff at James Ballentine VFW Post #246 in Minneapolis are hard at work putting together a wide variety of catered foods, individual meals and delivering them to those in need. The past two Fridays, Uptown has been delivering lunch to MACV clients who reside in our transitional houses throughout the metro.
A BIG thank you to Paul and his crew for lending a helping hand during this challenging time.
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Uptown VFW Store Front
Uptown VFW's list of partners continues to grow as well as their menu options. After the stay at home order has been lifted, please consider their event hall and event catering for meetings, seminars, holiday diners/parties, conferences, and educational/instructional classes.
James Ballentine VFW Post #246
2916 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis
612-823-6223
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Supporters Respond To Fill Basic Needs Caused By COVID-19 Shortages
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We would like to take a moment and thank everyone who has donated household supplies since the onset of the COVID-19 virus. Your generosity during this challenging time has allowed our clients to stay safe at home, reducing the stress and anxiety one would face due to the lack of supplies.
The support we've received is truly amazing and just goes to show we could not do what we do at MACV without the help of our community. A special thanks to the different military employee networks from 3M, Ecolab, Ameriprise, along with the Chaska BTYR,
Cub Scouts - Apple Valley Pack 292, Mall of America,
and those donations from individuals.
If you or anyone you know would like to donate household items to our clients such as cleaning supplies
,
paper towels, hand santizer, Clorox wipes, please email
mac-v@mac-v.org
or call
651-291-8756.
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Donor Spotlight - Gift from Mankato
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Last month, our Southern Regional office located in Mankato, received a generous grant which will be used to directly help Veterans in the Blue Earth and Nicollet counties. This project is funded (in part) through a philanthropic gift from the Sugden Family Fund of the Mankato Area Foundation.
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Thank you to donors last month
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Gifts over $5,000
Blandin Foundation
Bill Burgess Household
Gifts over $1,000
Stillwater Eagles 94
American Legion Post 0580
VFW Auxiliary Post 323
Shakopee Lions
Community Giving
Central Minnesota Community Foundation
Nelson-Kumar Household
Sharon Bookin Household
Wagner Household
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Gifts over $100
VFW Auxiliary Post 6913
Frontstream Comprehensive Distribution
American Legion Auxiliary Unit 0518
American Legion Auxiliary Anoka
Chanhassen Evening Rotary Club
Thomson Reuters
River Hills United Methodist Church
Community Giving
Hammer Household
Elise Edwards Household
Finch Household
Ronald & Debra Schultz Household
Schindeldecker Household
Batterman Household
Paula Baumberger Household
Jill Wallar Household
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You Can Help End Veteran Homelessness
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At the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak in Minnesota, we had identified 276 Veterans without a home.
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In this time of uncertainty, MACV expects to see an increase in requests for our services.
We are asking our supporters to help us build emergency funding to provide for services that are not currently covered under grants.
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