New resource guide available for Suffolk veterans

Suffolk County officially announced on Tuesday its new Veterans Resource Guide: a compiled document of resources throughout the county for veterans. The guide is available in print and online from the Veterans Service Agency.

The guide comes from a 2019 resolution sponsored by Legis. Sarah Anker (D-Mount Sinai), which called for a new resource that could show veterans in the county what benefits they were entitled to receive. The goal for the guide is to get the information in the hands of veterans to make sure they know all the programs that the county offers. According to the resolution, Suffolk County has the highest population of veterans in New York State. The guide includes only county-associated programs and not others that may be available.

“As the daughter of a disabled Navy veteran, I know how important it is to provide assistance to our veterans and their families,” Anker said. “We have an entire department that has knowledge and guidance to help our veterans who have provided this county with our freedoms. It’s the least we can do for our county’s brave military men and women, and this guide will provide a much-needed bridge for those that are in need of our wealth of resources and opportunities.”

The guide outlines special resources for veterans, including outreach days like the Suffolk County Marathon, the Veterans Run Series and “Heroes of the Game” with the Long Island Ducks. It lists food services like Long Island Cares and Island Harvest; health services like the state veterans home and the Northport VA hospital; and employment services like VetsWork and the county One-Stop employment center. It also includes legal resources and pet therapy options. The guide can be seen online at www.suffolkcountyny.gov/veterans.

“This guide is a great move in that direction to make sure the veterans are getting the information that they need,” said Dave Rogers, commander of the Suffolk County Veterans of Foreign Wars. 

“I’m sure this will be an ever-evolving resource [as] new and other programs come about to make sure that all of our veterans have access to the services and programs [that are offered],” added Legislature presiding officer Rob Calarco (D-Patchogue).

The resource guide is scheduled for updates every year on Jan. 1. For more information about Suffolk County’s Veterans Services, call 631-853-VETS (8387) or go to www.suffolkcountyny.gov/veterans.