The Missouri Elks East Central District will provide an opportunity for military veterans to learn about benefits that may be available to them and organizations that may be able to help them at a Veterans Resource Fair set for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Meramec-Arnold Elks Lodge, 1515 Miller Road, in Imperial.
It’s free to attend.
“Any veteran is welcome to come, whether they are an Elks member or not,” said Debbie Belavich, Missouri Elks East Central District vice president. “We are here to serve veterans, period.”
Belavich, whose husband, Mike, is the district’s chairman, said this is the third year for the event.
She said Veteran Service officers will be at the fair to help veterans apply for benefits.
Organizations expected to be at the fair include the Greater St. Louis Honor Flight, Wreaths Across America and Team River Runner St. Louis.
Representatives for insurance companies, travel agencies and other businesses will also be on hand, Belavich said.
“We want to better serve our veterans by connecting them with various organizations that work for veterans,” she said.
Belavich said Missouri Elks Association State President Jason Meisenheimer is expected to be at the fair, too.
A new feature for this year’s fair will be two seminars – one addressing veteran homelessness, and the other on veteran suicide prevention.
“It will tell people about the signs to look for in somebody who may be at risk of suicide,” she said.
The Elks will serve free hot dogs, chips and sodas during the fair, and raffles will be included.
“We have eight $25 gift cards to give away,” Belavich said.
Belavich said it is important to hold events to assist veterans.
“The Elks have a saying, ‘So long as there are veterans, the Elks will never forget them,’” she said.
Belavich said the first year of the fair Veteran Service officers helped 17 veterans request benefits, and last year, the VSOs filled out more than 60 benefit requests.
“Last year, we had more than 70 veterans and their families attend, and, hopefully, this year we will get more than last year,” she said.