An upcoming Cumberland County town hall aims to connect local veterans and their caregivers with essential benefits and support services they may not know exist.
Associates of Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1015 President Sherri Teepen organized the event to address the gap in knowledge regarding available resources for military families. The gathering Wednesday will feature experts from the Department of Veterans Affairs in Nashville to assist attendees with specific needs.
“It’s sometimes very hard for a veteran to ask for help because they don’t want to burden anybody else,” Teepen said. “They feel they’ve already been a burden by the fact that they’re disabled.”
Teepen said the town hall will cover a variety of topics including elder law, financial management, and stipends available for caregivers who assist veterans with daily tasks like showering or dressing. Free transportation is also available to take veterans to medical appointments in cities like Cookeville, Knoxville, Murfreesboro, and Nashville.
“How does a veteran navigate this?” Teepen said. “How are they supposed to do this when they’re not technologically astute and everyone is saying, ‘Well, go to the website. Well, just download the app.’”
Teepen said the event will feature separate tables dedicated to specific services such as telehealth, suicide prevention programs, and women veteran programs. Attendees can ask questions personally about their unique situations to find the right assistance.
“We need to have town hall meetings, we need to have education sessions, we need to have classes to help people with this,” Teepen said.
Teepen said the organization frequently hosts these meetings to discuss issues like toxic exposure to Agent Orange and post-traumatic stress disorder. Local veteran service officers are also available in the county to help individuals navigate the three separate branches of the federal system.
“It’s actually a privilege to take care of a veteran,” Teepen said. “And for what they did for this country, I don’t think many of our young people really understand what a privilege it is to serve our veterans.”