Army veteran Tom Harris has been working on behalf of veteran and military families for more than four decades. The former VA Veteran Center team leader obtained an MFRI Community Mobilization Grant to help support the Capital City Veteran and Military Resource Fair, sponsored by the Capital City Seventh Day Adventist Church in Indianapolis.
A competitive MFRI Community Mobilization Grant of $1,500 was awarded to the organization to support the resource fair. The funds will help defray about 50 percent of its cost, said Harris.
"One of the biggest concerns of veterans and military people is that they have to go all over creation to get assistance," Harris said. "We want to have a one-stop service center so to speak so that they can come to one place that will help them out."
In addition to a food pantry, employment help and representatives from veterans organizations, the event will feature a Mobile Veteran Center Van, a customized vehicle equipped with confidential counseling space and a state of the art communication package to help clients access needed services.
An experienced grant writer, Harris said he found the MFRI grant application direct and easy to navigate.
"I used to work in a program where a lot of what we did depended on grant writing," he said. "This is by far one of the smoothest, easy-to-read grant applications I have ever come in contact with. It would be great if others would follow your example. I have a passion for veterans, and your grant outline speaks to that passion."
The Capital City Veteran and Military Resource Fair will take place Friday, Oct. 17 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at the parking lot of the Capitol City Seventh-day Adventist Church, 1801 East 49th Street. Veterans, military members and their families are welcome and should bring their VA card, DD-214, military ID or similar identification in order to receive services.