Vet To Vet Maine

PEER COMPANION PROGRAM: DURING FY 22, 70+ TRAINED PEER COMPANIONS SPENT 3,212:30 HOURS OF SERVICE IN THE PROGRAM, ASSISTING AND CONTACTING AND/OR VISITING 97 VETERANS WHO WERE IN NEED OF A FRIEND, SOCIALLY ISOLATED, OR LONELY. OUR TWO PART-TIME STAFF MEMBERS SPENT THEIR TIME (1,468 HR) RECRUITING, TRAINING, AND ASSIGNING VOLUNTEER PEER COMPANIONS; PROCESSING VETERANS APPLYING FOR A PEER COMPANION; AND RESOLVING PROBLEMS AND ISSUES AND MAKING REFERRALS FOR ADDITIONAL SERVICES FOR THE VETERANS IN THE PROGRAM. OTHER VOLUNTEERS HELPED WITH TRAINING, CALLING VETERANS (PHONE PAL), AND ACTIVITIES TO ASSIST THE VETERANS IN THE PROGRAM.NEW PROGRAM SET UP TO PROVIDE INFORMATION AND SUPPORT TO CAREGIVERS OF VETERANS IN THE VET TO VET MAINE PROGRAM. A VOLUNTEER COORDINATES THE PROGRAM AND AN IT CONTRACTOR OPERATES THE ZOOM PROGRAM AT FOUR QUARTERLY MEETINGS. THE CAREGIVERS HEAR SPEAKERS 4 TIMES A YEAR ON TOPICS OF INTEREST; CAREGIVERS LINKED THROUGH ZOOM AND DIRECTORY TO ALLOW FOR MUTUAL SUPPORT; CAREGIVERS OF V2VME VETERANS WHO HAVE DIED RECENTLY MEET FOR MONTHLY GATHERINGS TO SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER. THE COORDINATOR HAS BEEN IN TOUCH WITH 14 CAREGIVERS AND AN ADDITIONAL 21 CAREGIVERS WHOSE VETERAN DIED DURING FY22.VET TO VET MAINE ESTABLISHED THE EMERGENCY FUND IN FY2020 TO ASSIST VETERANS IN OUR PROGRAM WHO NEEDED EMERGENCY FUNDS FOR GROCERIES, FUEL, AND OTHER ESSENTIALS. DURING FY22, WE DISTRIBUTED GROCERY GIFT CARDS $300 TO VETERANS WHO NEEDED ASSISTANCE. WE ALSO LINKED A VETERAN TO A FUND THAT PAID FOR HIS DOG TO RECEIVE MEDICAL TREATMENT WORTH $633.42.