Veterans Resource Fair And Food Distribution Coming To Hauppauge

HAUPPAUGE, NY — Long Island Cares is set to host its Veterans Resource Fair And Food Distribution at its headquarters in Hauppauge. The event is set for 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 9, at 75 Davids Drive, the food bank announced.

The event will feature free produce from its farmers market truck, as well as approximately 40 state, local and national programs and agencies that help veterans, such as the Suffolk County Department of Labor for job hunters; Paws of War; Wounded Warrior Project; New York State Department of Veterans’ Services; LI Veterans Home, more. PSEG Long Island will hand out free lightbulbs.

The event is open to veterans across Long Island, and there is no registration required. Long Island Cares is only asking veterans to provide proof of service.

Justin Berbig, veteran outreach coordinator of Long Island Cares, and Fern Summer, VetsWork Lifeskills specialist, were instrumental in coordinating the upcoming event. Berbig said a couple of months have gone into planning the event, which will be the second time Long Island Cares is organizing it.

"I am getting very excited leading up to the event," Berbig told Patch. "As a veteran myself, it is important to give back to my brothers and sisters that served our nation and to connect them with services and benefits that they earned."

Summer said working with veterans is "anything but simple or regimented."

"Veterans tend to be very private, especially around civilians," Summer said.

Summer said her work with veterans comes in private, individual meetings as opposed to in public or in groups. Discussion ranges from what type of job they want to what obstacles they face in obtaining that job.

Obstacles for veterans seeking jobs range from transportation to experience to past felonies or misdemeanors to housing, family, pets. hunger, and more, Summer explained.

"At this event, since there will be vendors to provide information, I may suggest to a client veteran that they speak to a specific vendor for information," she said. "For other veterans, this is simply an opportunity to meet and tell that I am available when they are ready to return to work."

Summer's sessions address obstacles that she sees, as well as ones that the veteran identifies. Veteran clients are members of VetsWork for as long as they want or need, meaning some come back years after a first placement.

"Helping veterans reintegrate into civilian life is a huge process and a necessary one," Summer said.

Among the vendors who will be at this event are at least two that address veteran death by suicide and provide connections to assist, veteran to veteran, in coping with the civilian world. Veterans speak their own language, Summer said, and learning "civilian" talk makes assimilation easier, as does dressing like a civilian.

"We will also have vendors to help them obtain the benefits they are entitled to as a veteran, including financial benefits, which give them a bit of help with the costs of daily living," she said. "This is a veteran to veteran thing, as many do not apply for the financial and medical aid they need. All of our vendors have some connection to the veteran community, as a vendor, a source of information, as someone who speaks their language."

Participating organizations and individuals include:

• General Needs
• EOC of Suffolk County
• Northport VA - Womens Clinic
• Suffolk County Department of Labor
• Suffolk County Veterans Agency
• Beacon House
• Dwyer Project
• Paws of War
• VFW District 11
• LI Veterans Home
• PSEG Long Island
• Craig Bruno - Legal Services
• Veterans Defense Program
• Clear Captions
• New York State Department of Veterans’ Services
• Suffolk County Department of Labor
• Vet Center
• Wounded Warrior Project
• SUS
• Mission 22
• National Grid
• Open Door Exchange
• CN Guidance
• Northport VA - Vocational Rehabilitation Program
• Nassau County Veterans Service Agency
• Advocate Health Advisors
• SAR
• VA Medical Center Outreach
• Wellcare
• SUNY Old Westbury
• Long Island National Cemetery
• Community Mental Health Promotion and Support Program
• Catholic Charities
• VA - Community Engagement
• VA - OEF/OIF Clinic
• Barbering Program from the Gary D. Bixhorn Technical Center at Eastern Suffolk BOCES
• Alzheimer's Association, Long Island Chapter
• Long Island Blue Star Moms NY6
• Charles Evans Center
• NYS Assemblywoman Rebecca Kassay, District 4
• LIC Nutrition Resource Manager
• American Red Cross

Veterans come with a large set of skills that many civilians either lack or do not consider important, Summer said.

"For example, an acclimated veteran is a very hard worker, usually gives more than an employer requires, has outstanding training and leadership skills," she said. "They are serious workers for the most part, dedicated to family, jobs and other veterans."

Summer is not a veteran herself, but she said she has learned a lot from them.

"I am honored that they listen to what I have to say and ask questions, that they take my advice, that they are willing to work with me," she said. "And I am honored that some of the veterans I have worked with will refer their friends, colleagues, and even relations to me for assistance. I would be happy to discuss some of the non-job related things I do as a member of the LIC Veterans Project staff if you have questions, want more information, or anything else."

Patch has partnered with Feeding America since 2020 to help raise awareness in our local communities of hunger, a persistent national problem exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Feeding America, which supports 200 food banks and 60,000 local meals programs across the country, estimates that nearly 34 million people, including 9 million children — about 1 in 6 Americans — are living with food insecurity. This is a Patch social good project; Feeding America receives 100 percent of donations. Find out how you can donate in your community or find a food pantry near you.