ROANOKE RAPIDS — On this Veterans Day, local organizations want those who’ve served this nation to know should they find themselves in hard times — unemployed, seeking assistance, or homeless — help is available in the Roanoke Valley.

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Jeff Futrell, veteran’s director for Northampton County, said his office is there to help veterans seeking benefits through the Veterans Administration (VA). His office’s services include pensions, disability, medical benefits, health care coverage, educational benefits, burial benefits and benefits for surviving spouses. He says the office serves a fairly steady clientele, although economic factors sometimes manipulate the numbers.

“It fluctuates quite a bit,” Futrell said. “A lot depends on the economy of course; it drives a lot of people. On average we see close to 100 a month between new benefits and renewing old benefits they’ve already been receiving.”

Futrell’s office is for veterans in all circumstances; they only need to be seeking benefits from the VA in order to take advantage of the county veterans offices.

“We are here as a resource and can assist veterans in obtaining these benefits,” Futrell explained. “Not all veterans are aware the counties have veterans officers. A lot of times vets will take it upon themselves to file a claim, but somebody who is familiar with (the paperwork process) can really assist those veterans. I encourage all veterans to come in and discuss the benefits out there so they will know about them and can apply for them.”

Should area veterans find themselves unemployed, the North Carolina Employment Security Commission has veterans employment consultants available to assist them. In Roanoke Rapids, Mike Holman fills this role and wants area vets to know the Commission is ready to help.

“Basically what we do here, we help veterans try to transition out of the military back into civilian life by providing them an avenue to get unemployment benefits to get them on their feet while they’re looking for work,” Holman explained. “We also refer them to outside agencies such as (Halifax Community College) to help them get into career fields because a lot of military jobs don’t transition to civilian jobs. Some of them want to go to school and some don’t. Our main goal is to transition them as painlessly as possible.”

Holman says there has not been an increase in veterans applying for benefits, but there remains a fairly significant number of veterans dealing with the Commission. “I get 50-100 veterans a month,” Holman said. “But a lot of those are repeat people I see constantly. Those are the numbers I’m dealing with, trying to get them jobs.”

As with Futrell, Holman feels awareness is key to helping Valley veterans. “If you’re a veteran and you’re looking for work, we’re there to help you. There is a vet rep in every office. They need to come in and see us and let us help them try to find some meaningful employment.”

In the event unemployment should lead to homelessness or hunger, the Rev. LaCount Anderson wants veterans to know the Union Mission stands ready to assist them. Anderson, the acting director of the Mission and a Navy veteran, he said “It’s not a significant number,” of the veterans coming to the Mission, “but enough that I’m paying attention to it.  I can’t tell you a specific number but we do have a number of veterans come in, we sure do. Currently we do not have a veteran at the Mission (as a resident).”

The Mission offers a variety of benefits to needy veterans, including transportation. Anderson said the Halifax County Veterans Office is very good at transporting veterans needing assistance, but he’s ready to step in when necessary. “If the Veterans Administration cannot transport, we usually take the men over to the center in Durham,” Anderson stated.

Anderson said making veterans aware help is available is a vital part of his job. “If I have a veteran who is a resident here I usually take the time to talk to them about their VA benefits,” Anderson explained. “And put them in touch with the Halifax County Veterans Administration.”

The Rev. also offers the Mission’s traditional benefits to veterans in need. “If you are a homeless person we can offer shelter,” Anderson says. “If you desire a meal, you can come here and have a meal at five o’clock. We also offer daily chapel services and we offer emergency food.”

As we celebrate Veterans Day, many of us will thank those who served and are serving our country in uniform. One way to thank them is to make them aware should they need it, help for them and their families is available.