Veteran disaster relief grants, supply and hygiene kits

The US Veterans Affairs Regional Office has informed Historic City News that disabled veterans and their eligible spouses, with either a service-connected or non-service-connected disability, can apply tomorrow and Wednesday to their Disaster Relief Program.

The St Johns County Veterans Service Office, located in Suite 1400 at 200 San Sebastian View in St Augustine, will host a member of the DAV Regional Office in St. Petersburg between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. to assist veterans, service members, surviving spouses and their families during this time of great need in the aftermath of the Hurricane Matthew disaster. You can also call 904-209-6160.

“Recently, the dollar amount of these DAV disaster relief grants was doubled,” said local veteran’s spokesman Michael Isam. “They may be issued for the purpose of providing financial aid, food, clothing and temporary shelter.”

The office representatives will break for lunch between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. and service is available on a first come – first served basis.

Also available for our veterans are supply kits which include backpacks and blankets, as well as hygiene kits which include basic necessities like a toothbrush and toothpaste, razors and shaving cream, hand sanitizer, deodorant, shampoo and soap.

These kits are intended to provide an additional resource for safety, comfort, and self-sufficiency in an extended emergency, disaster or evacuation.

Disaster Relief Eligibility Criteria:

• The applicant must be an ill, injured or wounded veteran or the spouse thereof (Same household); or a surviving spouse in receipt of Death Compensation or Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC); or a surviving spouse of a former Prisoner of War (POW); or a surviving spouse of an ill, injured or wounded veteran as a result of the isolated/specific disaster.
• The applicant does not need to be a member or in receipt of service connected compensation to be eligible.
• The applicant must be the victim of either an isolated or specific disaster.
• The applicant must be in immediate need of financial assistance, at the time of the disaster, as they do not have available funds, to pay for acquired expenses.

Please contact the DAV national service office that serves your area if you or your fellow veterans need assistance. The contact information for that office is:

Disabled American Veterans
VA Regional Office
PO Box 1437
St. Petersburg, FL 33731
727-319-7444
davstpete@vba.va.gov

This disaster relief assistance, its grants, supply kits, and hygiene kits, are provided with assistance of the St Johns County Veterans Service Office; an official government organization. Not affiliated with unofficial private relief efforts at 5 Arredondo Avenue, or elsewhere.