{"id":9360,"date":"2026-07-21T08:00:51","date_gmt":"2026-07-21T12:00:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/communicator.pef.org\/?p=9360"},"modified":"2026-08-07T09:47:17","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T13:47:17","slug":"connecting-veterans-with-the-services-they-need","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/communicator.pef.org\/issue\/volume-44-no-6\/connecting-veterans-with-the-services-they-need\/","title":{"rendered":"Connecting veterans with the services they need\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-9364 alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/communicator.pef.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/Vets-Header.jpg\" alt=\"Connecting veterans with the services they need\u00a0\" width=\"1200\" height=\"456\" srcset=\"https:\/\/communicator.pef.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/Vets-Header.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/communicator.pef.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/Vets-Header-300x114.jpg 300w, https:\/\/communicator.pef.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/Vets-Header-1024x389.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/communicator.pef.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/Vets-Header-768x292.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><em><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-9365 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/communicator.pef.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/Vets-Image-Web.jpg\" alt=\"Connecting veterans with the services they need\u00a0\" width=\"450\" height=\"338\" srcset=\"https:\/\/communicator.pef.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/Vets-Image-Web.jpg 450w, https:\/\/communicator.pef.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/Vets-Image-Web-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/>August 7, 2026 &#8212;<\/em> As a veteran, PEF member Kristine Gardner takes pride in her role as a veteran&#8217;s benefits advisor with the New York State Department of Veterans\u2019 Services (NYSDVS) in Region 2, where she helps connect veterans with education benefits.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cMy work includes outreach with SUNY and CUNY schools to make sure veteran students receive the benefits they may not know they\u2019re eligible for \u2014 benefits they deserve,\u201d she said. \u201cI can\u2019t stress enough how supportive NYSDVS is, and I\u2019m thankful every day for my job.\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Gardner is active in her community, running a food pantry, serving as deputy mayor of Odessa, and working as vice president of Vets for Schuyler. When a local news anchor approached her about expanding the Warriors to Washington program to Elmira, she joined a trip and experienced history firsthand.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Through <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/warriorstowashington.org\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Warriors to Washington<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, veterans visited some of the nation\u2019s most meaningful landmarks, including Arlington National Cemetery, the Lincoln Memorial, the Pentagon 9\/11 Memorial, the U.S. Capitol and the Flight 93 Memorial in Pennsylvania.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Gardner described the trip as unforgettable.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cVeterans organizations have really expanded in the last 10 years,\u201d she said. \u201cIt was breathtaking to go to Washington. Transportation, housing and meals were covered by Warriors to Washington.\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Connecting veterans with services and organizations that can help remains a challenge, but programs are available for needs ranging from fresh food to support during the transition from military to civilian life.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Gardner highlighted <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/veterans.ny.gov\/freshconnect-checks-veterans-and-families\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">FreshConnect<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, which provides eligible veterans and their families with coupon booklets \u2014 typically worth $50 \u2014 to purchase produce, dairy and meats at participating farmers\u2019 markets and farm stands. The program typically runs from May or July through December on a first-come, first-served basis.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">She also praised the state\u2019s collaboration with <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/operationmotorsport.org\/home-us\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Operation Motorsport<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, a veteran-led foundation that supports the recovery of medically retired or retired service members through immersion in motorsports. She was most recently onsite at Watkins Glen International.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">For active-duty service members transitioning out of the military, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/onwardops.org\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Onward Ops<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> provides national transition support to help recently separated veterans reintegrate into civilian life. Gardner said the program connects participants with sponsors who can guide them through benefits, housing, food, employment, schools and more.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cStatistics show the first two years are when individuals are most likely to commit suicide,\u201d she said. \u201cVets are always hesitant to ask questions about benefits. I strongly encourage them to go to their county or state veterans service organization and ask those questions. You might be surprised what you are eligible for \u2014 you never know until you ask.\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Visit the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/veterans.ny.gov\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">New York State Department of Veterans\u2019 Services website<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> to learn more about DVS\u2019s mission of Serving All Who Served.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>August 7, 2026 &#8212; As a veteran, PEF member Kristine Gardner takes pride in her role as a veteran&#8217;s benefits advisor with the New York State Department of Veterans\u2019 Services&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"division":[],"allowed_regions":[],"allowed_divisions":[],"class_list":["post-9360","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","issue-volume-44-no-6"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.6 (Yoast SEO v27.9) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Connecting veterans with the services they need\u00a0 - PEF Communicator<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/communicator.pef.org\/issue\/volume-44-no-6\/connecting-veterans-with-the-services-they-need\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Connecting veterans with the services they need\u00a0\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"August 7, 2026 &#8212; 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