COURT HOUSE – The latest statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau showed that New Jersey is home to 438,000 of the nation’s 21.4 million veterans. That means that veterans comprise 5 percent of the state’s population.
In Cape May County, the percentage of permanent residents who served in the military is almost twice the state average, at roughly 9 percent of the county’s population.
New Jersey is also among the states with the highest percentage of older veterans. Statistics peg the percentage of veterans over 65 years old at 57 percent, with another 20 percent between 55 and 64.
In Cape May County, a number of organizations try to respond to the varied needs of veterans. Some of those needs arise suddenly. When that happens, a unique committee of individuals and organizations steps in.
The Citizens/Veterans Advisory Committee (CVAC) began its efforts in 2013. Its mission is “to promote awareness of veterans’ needs and to identify proper resources for referrals that support these needs to enhance the lives of our veterans.”
One of the things that makes CVAC unusual is membership pulls together representatives of many of the social groups with veteran assistance programs. That membership includes representatives from Cape Counseling Services, Cape May and North Wildwood Elks, Catholic Charities, American Red Cross, Synergy Home Care, Knights of Columbus 3546, Holy Redeemer in Swainton, and Volunteers in Medicine.
CVAC has had 501(c)(3) status since 2016 and prides itself on the fact that donations to the committee are used directly for veterans’ assistance with no organization overhead involved.
At a recent CVAC meeting, Carol Cohen, executive director for the Red Cross’ Southern Shore service area, explained that a big part of the mission of CVAC is to quickly respond to emergencies. “We put out fires and stabilize the situation looking to other established groups for more long-term solutions,” she said.
The committee members explained that CVAC is simply a committee of dedicated individuals. It is not itself an organization with staff, facilities and a need for operating expenses. “We manage short-term crisis,” said committee chair Johnny Walker.
CVAC has a website, CVACcapemay.com, which is designed as a “one-stop shop” to allow veterans to access services. The volunteers provide assistance with U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs benefits, healthcare resources, housing, reintegration, and transportation.
CVAC daily receives requests from veterans in need of immediate help. They may help a veteran pay the rent when that first paycheck has not arrived, or help with an expensive car repair that exceeds a veteran’s fixed income, or locate housing for a veteran who would otherwise be homeless.
Many veterans have problems with expensive home repairs and CVAC has intervened by recruiting contractors who are willing to donate some time and labor or find ways to reduce the expense of what would otherwise have been a large home repair.
From putting a new roof on a veteran’s home to replacing a floor that became unsafe, CVAC works to help and to keep veterans in their homes.
Roof Max Exteriors, an Ocean City firm, recently worked with CVAC to provide a veteran with a new roof while DC Construction, of Lower Township, found ways to cut in half the projected cost of a veteran’s new floor.
CVAC is looking to find other contractors willing to join with them to help veterans. Interested parties can email Lou Ginsburg, CVAC case manager, at louisginsburg@comcast.net, or they can use the contact information on CVAC’s website.
To contact Vince Conti, email vconti@cmcherald.com.
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