Marine Corps veteran and Victoria area Military Veteran Peer Network (MVPN) Peer Service Coordinator Oscar Pulido saw the opportunity to enhance his town’s annual veteran recognition event with more comradery for veterans and connect them with local resources and services. The event, VetFest, is scheduled for Veterans Day, November 11, 2021, from 4-8 p.m. at the Son Valley Ranch near Victoria. Event planning features live music, putt-putt golf, a playground, fishing pond and pellet gun competition. Veterans can enjoy free meals from food trucks at the event and local organizations will present their resources and services for veterans.
Pulido began planning the event in July, working with local faith leaders and other community stakeholders. The following organizations are set to participate: Hope Post Acute Medical, Humana Insurance, Endeavors, Christian Warriors Retreat, Mid-Coast Family Services, DAV, Salvation Army; Community Action (local utility assistance) Mirida Assisted Living, Gulf Men’s Center (mental health services) and Billy T. Cattan Recovery Outreach.
“If you’re in the Victoria area on November 11, come by and enjoy VetFest,” said Pulido, pictured.
“This is a great example of the impact and value of the MVPN,” said Texas Veterans Commission (TVC) Veterans Mental Health Department (VMHD) Director Dr. Blake Harris. TVC’s VMHD supports the MVPN
MVPN Peer Service Coordinators are trained and certified by TVC VHMD “to meet the unique needs of veterans and their families,” said Harris. “This includes training on Suicide Prevention and
Military Cultural Competency, providing direct peer-to-peer support, giving warm-handoffs to local resources based on the individual needs of the veteran and family, and leading their own local teams of Peer Volunteers. All services provided by the MVPN are free of charge with no caps or limits on services provided.”
MVPN provides comradery and support to veterans and their families of regardless of discharge status or the amount of time served.
Interested in volunteering as a Peer, visit www.milvetpeer.net or email the Vet erans Mental Health Department at vmhd@tvc.texas.gov.