Veteran & Family Resource Update November 2021

Hello Friends,

November is traditionally a month associated with giving thanks here in the U.S.A. But we know for many of you going through PSD and other service-related issues, it's hard to be thankful. We want you to know we are appreciative of your service every day of the year. You matter to us! As a reminder, Veterans Day 2021 will soon be here.

Coming to Wellington, CO

November 10-14, 2021

Hosted by American Legion Post 176

Click here for details

Or visit www.facebook.com/ALWellington176/

Veteran Directed Care

Veteran-Directed Care is a VA program designed to help eligible Veterans who are at risk of being institutionalized to continue living at home and maintaining their independence.

It provides Veterans with opportunities to self-direct their long-term support system to manage their budgets, decide what mix of goods and services best meet their needs, and hire and supervise their workers – including family and friends.

They must be enrolled in the VA healthcare program and meet the clinical need. As with most VA programs, Veterans must first consult with their primary care physician to determine eligibility. For more information www.va.gov/geriatrics/pages/Veteran-Directed_Care.asp

Directory Available

Our Fourth Quarter 2021 Veteran & Family Resource Directory is now available in print and on our website. Click here Resource Directory | Qualified Listeners to download in PDF format. Contact us if you would like one mailed or where you can pick up a copy at various locations.

This Is Why We Do What We Do

62-year-old Air Force Veteran required some much-needed repair work on his 1993 Buick Park Avenue. Unfortunately, emergency dental work depleted his savings which were set aside for the repair work. With that and needing his car for transportation to and from work, he reached out to us for assistance.

Qualified Listeners, along with our amazing Funding Team, paid for the repair. Following is a note from our very humble Veteran expressing his gratitude and appreciation:

October 14, 2021

Shirley,

Hello again, I just got the call from Ft. Collins Muffler. They said the car runs smoother and has 50 horsepower more. It still has the noise from the bad bearings in the supercharger, but it would be absurd to do that repair. A new, used car is cheaper. Anyway, they will install the fuel filter tomorrow.

By the way, I did say another prayer for all parties involved, including you and Jodi. Thank you for the immense effort and support from all of you.

God Bless!

J.T. Fort Collins

Qualified Listeners would like to thank those who helped us help this Veteran:

LaPorte American Legion Post 4

Fort Collins VFW Post 1781

Fort Collins Post 1781 Auxiliary

Stillwater Ranch

Larimer County Veteran Service Office

Joseph S. Gordy Jr. DAV Chapter 8 Greeley

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An adult daughter of a Vietnam-era Navy Veteran needed to replace a recently purchased preowned power chair. Unfortunately, the device failed soon after purchase. Because it was used and with no warranty, she couldn't get a refund or replacement. Nor was it covered by her insurance.

A powered mobility device versus a manual wheelchair is necessary for her physical challenges. We were able to deliver a like-new power chair to her with more features than her previous one. Below is an email sent to one of our Family Care Coordinators who made this happen:

October 23, 2021

Hi Shirley,

How are you? I cannot even begin to tell you how grateful I am to have new wheels! I feel so free! Thank you so much for your kindness and your patience as you helped me navigate this process and find a wheelchair. I appreciate it so very much!

I would like to make a donation to Qualified Listeners. Would you be able to tell me the mailing address and whom I should make the check out to? I am on disability and am embarrassed about how small the donation will be. But, I am so thankful that I want to give something, even if it's not very much.

I could never describe how great it feels to be able to go places and not worry about breaking down. You and the folks at Qualified Listeners have truly blessed me! Thank you!

Be well,

K.S. Longmont

"Hope sees the invisible, feels the intangible, and achieves the impossible."

- Helen Keller

Pear Harbor Survivor Turns 100 in December

Jack Holder, one of the few Pearl Harbor survivors, will turn 100 years old on December 13th. Mr. Holder, a Navy Veteran, flew over 100 missions in WWII, including the Battle of Midway, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, English Channel, and the Bay of Biscay. For his military actions, he received 36 medals and commendations.

His family is coordinating a birthday “card shower” for him. Below is his name and address. If you would like to send a birthday greeting:

Jack Holder

% Darlene Tryon

P O Box 11094

Chandler, AZ 85248

The deadline to send cards is November 30th

It’s estimated there are fewer than 100 Pearl Harbor survivors today. Click here for more About Jack Holder - JackHolder.org

PAMVET Breakfast Club

Every Saturday at 9:00 am

Golden Corral Buffet & Grill

1360 Sculptor Dr, Loveland, CO

Come back and see your friends again! All Veterans and family members are invited to attend! If you want to be on the monthly reminder list, email Patricia Folse at [email protected]

National Day of Giving is a “global generosity movement unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world." It was started in 2012 on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving and is also known as Giving Tuesday. Since then, nonprofits in the U.S. have raised more than $1.9 billion.

Through October 2021 our volunteers have worked 3,101.75 hours and have driven 16,629 miles this year to assist hundreds of Veterans and families with transportation, listening sessions, mobility devices, home safety upgrades for physical challenges, financial assistance, donated furniture, household items, and more. All our services are free to the Veteran Community, but it takes money to provide free services.

Help celebrate National Day of Giving by donating to Qualified Listeners. We change lives. We impact lives. We save lives. You can donate by clicking here Our Veterans will tell you that your support is appreciated more than you know.

For Veterans From Veterans

If you need a mobility device contact us!

Need Help? Call 720-600-0860

Helpful VA Information

Veterans enrolled in the VA Healthcare system and admitted to a non-VA emergency room or urgent care facility can call the VA Authorization Office at 1-888-795-0773, option 1. A Veteran DOES NOT have to call this number before being admitted to the ER or urgent care but must do so within 72 hours post-admission.

If a Veteran is 100% disabled or retired from the military, and is in the Cheyenne VA Medical Center catchment area, call 307-778-7310 to check eligibility for dental benefits.

To transfer your records to the Cheyenne VA Medical Center catchment area, call 307-778-7555

If you fall and need help getting up, call your local fire department. If you lock your keys in the car, call your local fire department.

Seeking Reputable Resources

Since we cover such a large geographic area of Colorado and Wyoming, we cannot be in every community, so we ask for your help. We need to create a list of excellent service providers in your area, such as plumbers, electricians, lawn care, painting, sprinkler systems, handypersons, home contractors, moving companies, home cleaning, and others. We want to find business owners who recognize that their freedom to own a business comes from Veterans. They also need to work with us on pricing. If you’ve had success working with a Veteran-friendly company, please let us know so we can reach out to them.

What exactly do we do?

We listen
Provide transportation to medical appointments
Help with mobility equipment
Offer vetted resources for Veterans
Help Veterans & families find more peace in their lives

Monetary Donations:

We are always grateful for monetary donations, which allows us to continue serving Veterans and families. If you can contribute whatever amount you feel comfortable with, please click here. It’s not about donating; it’s about making a difference. We’re a 501(C)3 non-profit organization. All donations are tax-deductible under our EIN 81-5381427.

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Qualified Listeners

Mailing Address:

PO Box 563

Dacono, CO 80514

Tel: 720-600-0860