George Stahl
You are welcomed and encouraged to attend the February meeting of the Jewish War Veterans Post 619 on Sunday, Feb. 16, at 9:30 a.m. We gather in the Mirror Room located inside the Administration building of the Sun Lakes Country Club.
This month’s speaker is special guest Michelle Jameson of U.S. Vets-Phoenix. Michelle is the executive director of the organization, which is a national leader in providing housing, employment, and other critical services to veterans. She serves currently as a member on the Phoenix Business and Workforce Development Board, while holding seats on as many as four committees across the state, including Congressman Ruben Gallego’s Veterans Council.
As the daughter of a Vietnam veteran, Michelle knows firsthand the needs of the men and women who have served our country bravely and with honor. She knows and sees the need for the nation’s veterans to be treated with respect and dignity and to be provided with the essentials of a good life. In her position as director of U.S. Vets-Phoenix, Michelle oversees the fiscal and program operations of the organization. She is uniquely able to understand the need and importance of providing a variety of supportive programs to help veterans successfully reintegrate into civilian life. Since its inception in 2001, U.S. Vets-Phoenix has given homeless and at-risk veterans in Maricopa County an opportunity to reclaim their lives and achieve self-sufficiency. Their target population is homeless veterans or veterans at grave risk for homelessness. In line with this, Michelle is a member of the Arizona Coalition to End Homelessness Legislative Advocacy. Among the programs under Michelle’s leadership at U.S. Vets-Phoenix are ones that strive to provide long-term transitional and permanent housing, employment training services to homeless veterans, mental health, substance abuse programs, life skills training, and comprehensive case management. Annually, U.S. Vets-Phoenix provides housing to over 500 veterans in Maricopa County.
According to Michelle, “Since 2008, Jewish War Veterans Post 619 has donated $42,600 to U.S. Vets-Phoenix which is amazing! Funding we get is never enough. When we needed beds and dressers last year, I had no idea where we would get the money. JWV Post 169 came to our rescue; you guys are always wonderful to us,” Michelle concluded.
If you are a veteran or have a family member or friend who is veteran, the February meeting is for you and them. Come out and put a morning aside on Sunday, Feb. 16, at 9:30 a.m. to join us for refreshments and to meet Michelle. It could be just the thing you need to see what your next step might be in getting settled back into everyday life.
JWV membership is open to everyone in the community. Members and nonveterans represent a wide range of religious affiliations. Support is provided to Arizona veterans of all religions and beliefs. Post 619 meets the third Sunday of every month in the Sun Lakes Country Club Mirror Room at 9:30 a.m. Meetings feature speakers focused on supporting veterans, and refreshments are served. For additional information about JWV activities or membership, please contact Commander Robert Brooks at 480-588-1827 or [email protected]. See you at the Post.