The VA Long Beach Healthcare System will host several events this month for veterans and community members, including a resource and education fair, and a campus cleanup.
The Tibor Rubin VA Medical Center, 5901 E. Seventh St., serves more than 64,000 veterans in and around Long Beach each year, according to its website. Some of the health care services provided include blind and low-vision rehabilitation, cardiology, emergency care, homeless veteran care, mental health care, physical therapy, suicide prevention, and women veteran care, among others.
The hospital also supports veteran families, conducts research and is a teaching hospital.
The mission of the VA Long Beach Healthcare System is to offer options for timely, quality services for veterans through “care and respect for one’s physical, psychological and spiritual health,” according to its website.
The hospital hosts community events that both veterans and neighbors can get involved in, from clean-up events for the hospital campus, to resource fairs for caregivers, families and veterans. This month, there are five events happening at the Tibor Rubin VA Medical Center.
The Campus Cleanup Day will take place from 8 a.m. to noon Sept. 18 at the hospital. The cleanup is an opportunity for the community to come together and take action against pollution while promoting environmental responsibility, organizers said. The event’s purpose is to prevent litter from entering Long Beach’s waterways, protect local wildlife and maintain a clean, healthy campus for everyone.
On the same day, Friday, Sept. 18, there will be a “Veterans Legal Institute Legal Clinic” from 9 a.m. to noon at the hospital’s Building 165, in rooms C209B and D101. The Veterans Legal Institute and VA Long Beach offer these free monthly legal clinics to assist with different cases, such as Vietnam veterans with Agent Orange exposure, veterans with burn pit exposure, and all other VA Disability Benefits claims and appeals, according to its website. Hospital officials ask veterans to bring their DD214 and recent VA Decision Letter.
Walk-ins are welcome, and appointments are available by applying online at vetslegal.org/application or by phone at 714-852-3492.
A Caregiver and Family Resource Fair is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 23 at the hospital’s Building 165, in room D101. The fair is an event that brings together VA and community partners who are working collectively to support caregivers. Those welcome to attend the resource fair include veterans, family caregivers, general caregivers and any other family member, friend or neighbor whom a veteran identifies as a support person, organizers said. Attendees will have the opportunity to receive resources, education and support.
A Veterans Resource and Education Fair will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 25 at the hospital’s Building 165, at the Stars and Stripes Plaza and in room D101. The resource fair and educational sessions will be cohosted by CalVet and Coastline College to provide veterans the opportunity to meet with more than 20 community resources, organizers said.
Education sessions will be available throughout the day for veterans to learn more about specific resources available to them. Free lunch will be provided. Registration for the event can be made at rm.cccd.edu/register/CaLTap_at_VAMCLB.
“Our goal is to help ensure veterans know about the range of benefits they have earned,” said Stephen Dagadakis, public affairs officer for the VA Long Beach Healthcare System. “At prior resource fairs, we have spoken to veterans who learned about benefits that were life-changing, such as getting access to health care and higher education benefits.
“The event builds on an annual fair that had previously been hosted off-site and is now on the VA campus to make it easier for Veterans to attend,” Dagadakis added. “The event is free and open to all veterans.”
Finally, the hospital will host its semi-annual “Meet a Veteran” event from 11 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Sept. 30. The event honors a group of local veterans with plaques featuring their pictures and biographies in the “Meet a Veteran” gallery – near the Patriot Store. This year, 18 veterans will be honored.
“As part of the program, each honored veteran is paired with a member of our Veteran Appreciation Committee who reads their biography while the veteran stands next to them,” Dagadakis said. “The biographies represent the broad range of experiences of the veterans honored – some are quite humorous, while others reflect the gravity of their service.”
To learn more information about VA Long Beach services and upcoming community events, visit va.gov/long-beach-health-care.