Upcoming Job Fair! The Best Part, You Don't Have to Leave the House!!!

Are you active duty, guard, reserves or a military spouse seeking employment? Veteran Recruiting has a few upcoming Virtual Career Fairs. The best part, you can check this out from the comfort of your own home. Be sure to dress to kill though because you will have to opportunity to meet live with dozens of America's most veteran friendly employers Register today! You will have the chance to chat live with recruiters, the ability to view as well as apply for jobs, and connect with other veterans and military spouses in the networking lounge. To ensure you are the most prepared for this upcoming virtual career fair login ahead of time to check out the companies prior to attending! Click here for more information about this events and more to come!

Have You Heard the News? We're Official!

Hello nonprofit lovers! Did you hear that we're official? We received our 501(c) letter and now we're looking to you to spread the word!

Are you looking to support a charity that is helping out veterans in a big way? Look no further! VeTSDC is now registered with Amazon Smile which helps charities by providing a percentage to charities that are registered with them. Our current goal is to raise funds so we can open a building which will provide counseling services, assistance with special needs children, and job placement. But we can't do that without your help! So if you have a moment to spare please share our link to AmazonSmile! It's as easy as logging into Amazon, clicking our link, and going about your usual Amazon shopping! Thank you for your continued support!

Longterm Care & Caregiver Support Benefits

Did you know that there was support available for veterans who need to be put in a long term care facility? Many veterans are able to receive this care, as well as assistance if you take a family member into your home who is a veteran. Also, there are death benefits as well. Veteran service members can receive a flag for their casket, a presidential memorial certificate, and offers free headstones markers or medallions.

Were you unable to obtain life insurance after you got out of the service? Well you can still obtain it if, you are 1 year and 120 days from date of separation. If you apply for coverage within 240 days of your date of separation, you will not need to answer health questions. Your SGLI will be converted to a VGLI, here's the link for more info Servicemembers' and Veterans' Group Life Insurance, with a possibility of receiving up to $400,000. Premiums are based upon the veterans age.

Have you heard of Accelerated Benefit Claims? The Accelerated Benefit Option gives terminally-ill SGLI, Family SGLI and VGLI policyholders access to the death benefits of their policies before they die. The member may receive a portion of the face value of the insurance in a lump sum payment.

"A member is eligible to receive an Accelerated Benefit if he/she or a covered spouse has a valid written prognosis from a physician of 9 months or less to live. Only the insured member may apply for an Accelerated Benefit. No one else can apply on the member's behalf. In the case of a terminally ill spouse, only the member may apply for accelerated benefits. The amount of Accelerated Benefit available to a member is up to 50% of the face value of the member's insurance coverage. If a member elects less than the maximum, the amount requested must be in increments of $5,000" (US Department of Veteran Affairs, 2014). 

The Whidbey Island Fair is Coming Up: It's Easy to Register!

Looking for something fun to do, or possibly to participate in? Look no further the Whidbey Island Fair is just around the corner! Click here for more information on the fair and how to register, including rules and deadlines. 

–Fair Association History–

"Roots of the Island County Fair go back to 1912, when it was established in Coupeville by a private company as the Island County Fair Association. But the fair needed to draw it’s audience from all of Whidbey Island, and for South Whidbey residents back then, the trip to Coupeville was dif cult and expensive. Traveling by horseback or carriage, it was a 20- to 30- mile journey, which necessitated an overnight stay. Excursion boats brought passengers from Camano Island and various points on Whidbey Island, but the fair attendance remained poor and the fair died out in 1916 for lack of support.

Langley resurrected the fair in 1917 on the town’s waterfront. In 1922, it was moved to the town’s school gymnasium, and the following year the fair was organized as a nonpro t organization funded by memberships. By the late 1920’s, there were better roads and auto travel. The fair prospered and in 1934 - one of the worst years of the Great Depression - the Fair Association built the pole building on property adjacent to the school. Using support from the WPA (Works Progress Administration), the Association purchased a six-acre chicken ranch near the school and construction began on a large fair building, completed in 1937. During the next three decades horse barns and exhibit halls were added.

The Fair Association deeded the fairgrounds to Island County in 1962 with the understanding that the property could not be sold without a majority vote of the island’s pioneer descendant’s. The Association continues to operate the fair (held annually in August) and members are proud that no tax dollars support it. The fairgrounds are located at 819 Camano Avenue in Langley."–Island County Fair Association  

Volunteers Needed!!!!

Looking to give back to the community? Oak Harbor Christian School is in need of volunteers for their upcoming yard sale. They need your help to setup, so if you're interested contact Laura or Liz for more information!

Mark Your Calendars: Job Opportunity Awaits!

Verizon is looking to fill 1400 jobs in the Northeast, and would like as many of them be filled by veterans and military spouses as possible.

They are searching for strong, dynamic leaders to serve as Fios Field Technicians, Call Center Technical Supervisors and Sales Call Center Managers in MD, PA, VA, NY and NJ.

This is virtual career fair it starts on July 13th from 1-3pm EST, click here to login.

Commitment | USMC Wounded Warrior

We hear this story all too often, that another service member was injured fighting for their country. However, this Marine was not going to let it keep him from doing what he loves, protecting our freedom.


"Burned over 74 percent of his body, his jaw shattered into 37 pieces and his left ulna broken, Gallegos’ goal seemed almost futile, but his core value of determination stayed strong."–American Military News


See for yourself why we feel proud to be Americans because we know that he is one of the many service members who protect our freedom everyday!

Read about it here!

–4th of July Parade–

We had so much fun walking in the parade with fellow veterans and their families! We want to thank those who came out and walked with VeTSDC this year! Here are a few photos from the parade! We hope that you and yours had a Happy 4th of July. Also, we want to thank those who serve and protect our freedom everyday!

Our Founder Jendayi Stafford and Co-Founder Gary Strong with some more VeTSDC volunteers!

A group shot of everyone who walked in the parade!

Feeling the 4th of July Spirit!

VA Benefits: How to Apply for Disability Benefits, VA Benefits Timetable, and Medical Discharge Information

VeTSDC knows firsthand how challenging it can be to start the movements of obtaining disability benefits. Our founders have gone through it too and here's some info that they found particularly interesting...

Here is a website that walks you through how to apply for disability benefits:

More Info!
Apply Today!

What is a DD214?
This site walks you through how to understand what a DD form 214 is, it's history, and what you need it for and how to obtain one. It sends information to a SSD Representative to contact you and walk you through eligibility and how to sign up.

Click Here!

Want to know what a disability rating is and how the calculate your compensation?

Check it out!

Here's a look at the VA Benefits Timetable–

Medical Discharge: VA Benefits for Service Members going through this process–

If you'd like a copy of these pdfs sent to you please email Jendayi.stafford@vetsdc.org!

Home Information: Grants and Avoiding Foreclosure

The Specially Adapted Housing Program gives disabled vets the ability to get assistance building, remodeling, or purchasing an adapted home. 

The Home Loan Guaranty assists with delinquent home loans. The VA wants to ensure that any veteran is able to keep their home and avoid foreclosure. 

If you'd like a pdf version of this information emailed to you please email jendayi.stafford@vetsdc.org!

–4th of July Parade–

Come walk with us in the 4th of July Parade!

If you want to walk with VeTSDC in the parade just let us know you'll be participating in our "4th of July Parade" Event on Facebook! Everyone is welcome just wear red, blue, or your VeTSDC t-shirts. We will be passing out candy and beads too, so bring your throwing arm!

If you have any questions feel free to contact april.pomeroy@vetsdc.org!

–Upcoming Job Fair: For NASWI Personnel Transitioning Out–

The job fair is on June 30, 2016 from 10:00am to 2:00pm at Skagit Valley College, Oak Harbor Campus. This event is the annual Naval Air Station Whidbey Island Job Fair and SIHRMA is going to be assisting with providing active duty service members that are going to be transitioning from active duty and veterans with resume evaluations.

–Day of Caring: Volunteer Opportunity–

VeTSDC is volunteering with United Way on their Day of Caring. 

It is "The biggest volunteer event in the state is calling your name. With 10,000 volunteers, Day of Caring is THE day to give your time and energy to our area's nonprofits" is how United Way describes the event that it sponsors around the country. We have adopted Oak Harbor Christian School. Some of the projects will include sanding and refinishing the front bench, putting down reflecting striping around outside steps, and general grounds maintenance. If you want to give back or obtain some volunteer hours please stop by and lend us a hand! 


Please be sure to arrive by no later than 8:15am at suite 101 refreshments and snacks will be served.

–Homegrown Grassroots–

Anita Smith and her group of volunteer quilters opened up their quilting circle to us last Wednesday. They were very gracious and patient in teaching our local vets children how to make quilts for our local veterans. 

Anita Smith says, "We have all been working diligently to get quilts finished to be able to present them to our local island Veterans. What is special about these quilts is how many people are involved in making them. We counted recently and there are 8 to 14 different hands that have touched these quilts. The hands have been from children and adults, some who are experienced and some who aren't. Hands have bought and donated the fabric, cut it, sewn it, pressed it, and sewn it some more to create an amazing design. From there, someone machine quilted the pieced fabric, batting, and backing together, sewed on the binding, washed the quilts when finished, made labels for each one and even created custom labels for the bags. We then find a veteran to present this handmade quilt to and they receive this amazing gift that was made with so much love and care. All these hands want that Veteran to know, that someone on the island cares that they served this country and that they want to honor them now that they are home. We are not funded by any organization to make these quilts. All the fabric, batting, and supplies have been donated. The Deer Lagoon Grange has donated the space for us to use to sew. Without these donations we could not do what we are doing right now. This is what is so amazing. this is the 'grass roots' of true Whidbey Island hearts, giving to our Veterans."

If you are interested in joining VeTSDC on our next trip to Langley, or would like to see this group come up to Oak Harbor, feel free to send us a message on Facebook, or send email requests to: Jendayi.Stafford@vetsdc.org

Anita Smith and her group are willing to come up to Oak Harbor and work with veteran kids and their families in making quilts for our local vets. The children who partook last Wednesday in Langley absolutely loved participating in this activity and VeTSDC hopes to bring this experience to more children here in Oak Harbor!