Vet To Vet Maine

Peer Companion Program: During FY 21, 70+ trained peer companions spent 3,245 hours of service in the program, assisting and contacting and/or visiting 94 veterans who were in need of a friend, socially isolated, or lonely. Our part-time staff member spent her time (20 hr/wk) recruiting, training, and assigning volunteer peer companions; processing veterans applying for a peer companion; and resolving problems and issues and making referrals for additional services for the veterans in the program. Other volunteers helped with training, calling veterans (phone pal), and performing activities to assist the veterans in the program. Veteran volunteers connected their veteran friends to a multitude of services from VA home health services, mental health counseling, Meals on Wheels and other food programs, VA housing assistance, and respite for family members.

Caregivers' Support Network: New program set up to provide information and support to caregivers of veterans in the Vet to Vet Maine program. A volunteer coordinates the program and an IT contractor operates the Zoom program at four quarterly meetings. The caregivers hear speakers 4 times a year on topics of interest; caregivers of V2VME veterans who have died recently meet for monthly gatherings to support one another.

Veterans' Emergency Fund:Vet to Vet Maine established the Emergency Fund in FY2020 to assist veterans in our program who needed emergency funds for groceries, fuel, and other essentials. During FY21, we distributed grocery gift cards ($1395) to 19 veterans, $300 for heating to 1 veteran, a Tracphone and minutes ($54), and 4 in-kind $50 grocery cards to 4 veterans.