Help, hope, and community for veterans

A Red River Hospital representative speaks with a U.S. Navy veteran at Catholic Charities Veterans Fair in Wichita Falls. (NTC/Lisa Moore)

WICHITA FALLS — At the Wichita Falls Public Library on April 10, Catholic Charities Fort Worth hosted its fourth annual Veterans Fair featuring over 60 vendors. Private care companies, U.S. and state departments of Veterans’ Affairs, the Texas Workforce Commission, as well as the local Crisis Aid Response Team and specialty clinics all attended, ready with answers to show just what they can offer veterans at every stage.

With every vendor, the message was the same: “We’re here to help.”

CCFW’s Director of Northwest Community Impact Rita Gauthier pointed out the importance of the face-to-face conversations the fair provided. 

“Getting through to talk to a live person was something that the fair gives — to come talk to real people about their issues,” she said. “A good number of the folks who come to these fairs a lot of times are looking for services regarding their VA rating or VA disability. They were onsite doing claims for folks.”

Having all the service agencies under one roof was not only great for the community, Gauthier noted, but also the vendors themselves, allowing them to better network with other service providers and refer clients to adjacent agencies. “They felt that was a huge benefit,” she stated.

Recreational therapy organizations offered helpful fun to veterans and their families: Veterans Freedom Retreat advertised therapy getaway sessions for singles and couples, while Warrior Art Brigade creatively reconciles injury trauma by exploding acrylic paint onto canvases with gun powder.

Organizations for fellowship and community service were also at the forefront, particularly encouraging veterans of younger generations to find community with them. 

“The younger folks – Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom – they’re welcome,” U.S. Air Force Ret. Fred Prejean of the Texas Association of Vietnam Veterans emphasized.

Home for Freedom, a nonprofit undertaking cemetery renovations, tiny home building, and service dog training — all for veterans — received excellent support from Catholic Charities, founder Lisa Lothenore noted. Home for Freedom hopes to not only continue partnering with Catholic Charities, but also reciprocate Catholic Charities’ assistance, she said.

“It was heartfelt for me to see that they were really taking to heart what we’re doing,” she stated. “They told me endless times, ‘if you need anything, call us. We’ll be glad to help you any way we can.’ That just made me smile. If there’s a project they need help on, we want to help as well.”

By providing an occasion for care providers to come together and meet their patrons and fellow organizations, the Catholic Charities Veterans’ Fair made one thing abundantly clear: through all walks of life and in every need, our veterans are not alone.

Volunteer, contribute to, or learn more about Catholic Charities Fort Worth by visiting CatholicCharitiesFortWorth.org.