Free Veterans Benefits, Counseling Coming To Lakewood YMCA

LAKEWOOD, OH — The Lakewood Family YMCA will host a Veterans Benefits event on Nov. 9.

The event will offer free services to veterans and their families. The Veterans Affairs Vet Center and Mobile Vet Center will be present for the event.

The Lakewood YMCA event will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 16915 Detroit Road.

“We are thrilled to provide this service to the veterans in our area,” said Virgil Wahome, associate executive director, Lakewood Family YMCA. “There are more than 140,000 veterans in Greater Cleveland area who have given so much to our country. We want to make it as easy as possible for veterans in our area to get the services they need from the Department of Veterans Affairs. We value this partnership.”

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During the event, attendees can receive the following free services:

• Individual counseling
• Group counseling
• Marital counseling
• Spouse support group
• Bereavement counseling
• Sexual trauma counseling & referral
• Substance abuse screening & referral
• VA Benefits assistance & referral

The Veteran Benefits Administration will also provide information on:

• Service-connected disability compensation
• Non-service connected disability pension
• Home loan information
• Burial nenefit information
• Survivor benefits

Counselors will be available to file claims and to discuss the status of individual claims and appeals. No appointments are necessary and there are no charges for the services.

If you can't make the Lakewood event, two additional events will be held at YMCAs in Warrensville Heights and Garretsville.

The Garrettsville Family YMCA will host a Veterans Benefits Event on November 12 , from 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at its location at 8233 Park Avenue, Garrettsville. The Warrensville Heights Family YMCA will host a Veterans Benefits Event on November 10 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at its location at 4433 Northfield Road, Warrensville Heights.