Did you know that there are, according to Steve Lucas, the Veteran Service Officer for Wood County, over 6,000 veterans in Wood County? Below are a few local resources to support these men and women who have been in service.

The Wood County Marine Corps. League

The Wood County Marine Corps. League “take pride in serving our Marines and Veterans throughout the entire life-span phases of their lives and beyond.” In addition to holding meetings for veterans to come and meet one another, the WCMCL hosts the annual Toys for Tots mission, hands out scholarships to young adults, and hosts impressive events like the Marine Corps. Birthday and Veteran’s Ball Celebration. They also organize activities for Marines and veterans to do together, such as “annual hunting and fishing trips,” golf tournaments, a shooting league, and more. According to Lucas, the WCMCL is the most active veteran’s organization for community service, both in the county and in East Texas.

The They Got Your 6

Foundation

The TheyGotYour6 Foundation does a little bit of everything. From providing emergency needs such as clothing and toiletries to helping with job placement, counseling (which is free to service members and their families), suicide intervention, and more, this nonprofit organization really works to make sure that Wood County veterans and emergency personnel are taken care of. They also hold meetings so that veterans and emergency personnel in the area can “build meaningful and lasting relationships with (other) people that have worn a uniform of service.” Although they do not consider themselves a long-term resource, the foundation says that they “teach a man to fish” so that veterans in the area can “get back on their feet.” “Come hungry, and come as you are,” their website encourages.

The Andrews Center

While the Andrews Center in Mineola provides many resources to all locals, regardless of involvement in the service, they do have a special category of specifically veteran’s resources. They specialize in connecting veterans with mental health resources and those who can help with case management. Their website states that they accept many various forms of payment, including “Tricare, Champva, or fee for service cards (VA Fee Basis),” or the state care program.

Heroes Ranch

Heroes Ranch is a truly unique resource for “Military, Law Enforcement, Firefighters, First Responders, Gold Star Families, and Special Needs Families.” At this 450-acre ranch, which is located near Quitman, heroes and their families can hunt, fish, camp, hike, or enjoy any of the ranch’s other “endless” outdoor activities. The nonprofit is also unique in that they “strive to adapt to the needs of our Heroes by providing outdoor wheelchairs, ramps, specialized guns, and more!” Accessibility is never a problem at Heroes Ranch. “At Heroes Ranch,” their website says, “adventure knows no limits and we believe that every Hero deserves the opportunity to experience the healing of the outdoors.”

GoBus

While anyone can ride the GoBus, the company has a special program whereby veterans, their dependents, and their surviving spouses can be transported to several places for free. The normal fee for a GoBus ride is $2 each way, but according to their website, the aforementioned people can be taken to the grocery store, medical appointments, community meetings and more for free. They ask that riders bring proof of service and/or relationship upon booking. They operate from Monday through Friday, 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and are wheelchair accessible. Their website states that the program is funded through a grant from the Texas Veterans Commission’s Fund for Veterans’ Assistance.

Wood County Veteran’s Services

The Wood County Veteran’s Services office is located in the Wood County Tax office in Quitman. They offer services such as giving guidance on veteran’s health care and medical benefits information, veterans funeral benefits, and getting DD 214 forms for military discharges filled out. The WCVS is open for walk-in appointments from Monday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to noon, and is open for pre-scheduled appointments from Monday to Thursday, 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Check out their Facebook page for ongoing resources and tips!

East Texas Workforce Commission

This organization, which serves both veterans and civilians, prioritizes those who have served our country, and their eligible spouses. The ETWC offers many services, including “matching qualified veterans for potential employment opportunities,” job coaching, career guidance, training, childcare services, use of the ETWC Center resources such as computers and phones, and more. They also provide more information on resources to help veterans make a healthy transition back into civilian life.

“Honorably discharged veterans and eligible spouses are afforded priority services in our system. Priority of services means that your needs take precedence over other job seekers,” their website states.

In addition to all of these, First Methodist Church of Quitman hosts a free breakfast on the first Tuesday of each month from 8-9:30 a.m. for veterans, their spouses and their caregivers to fellowship, eat and “generally swap stories.” The website myhealth.va.gov/ provides veterans with health resources and direction, and www.va.gov/ is a holistic resource that gives veterans assistance and guidance with many resources. According to the Texas Comptroller, disabled veterans may qualify for some tax exemptions on property. The American Legion has posts in both Winnsboro and Mineola. The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) has a post in Mineola. The list goes on; veteran resources are too numerous to count!

“The community is amazing; the support is amazing,” agreed Lucas.