Dear Editor,
The Jerry Ambrose Veterans Council has helped nearly 3,000 veterans since its inception. We continue to aid military veterans and their immediate families. Individual assistance decisions are made based on circumstances. We may provide direct assistance or refer them to our community partners. Decisions are based on a “hand-up” process.
We continue to sponsor Veterans Resources Fairs in Lake Havasu City, Bullhead City, and Kingman. Recently we have been asked to assist with two LaPaz County Stand Downs, along with the Arizona Department of Veterans Services and the Arizona Stand Down Alliance who provide the funding. We will continue to support these events to provide localized, specific services for these areas. We are seeking community partners to take over leadership for each of these most needed affairs.
Recently an anonymous person sent out postcards to “Fellow Merchant” in downtown Kingman. There was no return address or signature on the mailing. Many unfounded salacious statements were made that were simply incorrect. The slander was more of a personal attack on me. However, because this obviously unsigned and uninformed accusatory mailing disparages our members, our community partners, and my wife, I wanted to update you on what is happening with the JAVC.
We still support Mohave County Veterans Treatment Courts as about 200 veterans have graduated and returned to a successful civilian life after receiving the services that they so desperately needed.
After several unavoidable delays including COVID-19, we are still in the process of completing our Operation 6 program and facility. Operation 6 is a 25-unit Transitional Housing program for military veterans only, male and female. The facility currently meets all city regulations including the fire code. We have food, water, clothing, and toiletries available for those in need. We will be advertising paid positions as required by our grant awards. We have already added one full-time and one part-time position. These positions were required by the Veterans Administration in order to comply with the recently awarded Grant per Diem program. This grant will allow us to work with about 50 veterans every year to identify barriers and to provide whatever we can to remove those barriers. They will then be able to either locate housing (if unable to work) or training and employment if ready to return to work. Many employers prefer hiring military veterans due to their background and training.
Even without a fully functioning physical facility, JAVC has continued to make a difference in the lives of our veterans. I have no idea how any of these programs offend anyone. The anonymous writer of this defamatory postcard can contact me via email president@javc.org to verify any facts prior to another mailing. If the postcard had included contact information, I would have been happy to answer any questions about JAVC.
To date we have over $900,000 invested in our Operation 6 facility. These funds come from grants, donations, tax credits, and fundraisers. THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR SUPPORT! (Check us out at www.javc.org to donate on-line and obtain more information about our organization.)
We very much appreciate every member, volunteer, and community partner along with those who support our mission. We “Welcome Home” all our military veterans and thank them for their service.
Dorn Patrick Farrell
President, JAVC
