AARP Maryland Veterans Corner: June 2023

Welcome to the AARP Maryland Veterans Corner, where we highlight news, resources and activities serving Maryland's military community. For information on how to get involved with our veteran's outreach, don't hesitate to get in touch with md@aarp.org and include "Veterans Outreach" in your subject line.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Meet-Up with AARP at Checker Spot Brewing Company
June 15 from 5 to 7 p.m. join AARP Maryland volunteers in South Baltimore for a complimentary craft beer and learn about our work to help protect veterans from fraud. Registration for this and future events is available HERE.

Chesapeake Veterans Alliance to Host a Veterans Claim Clinic
Co-sponsored by the Veterans Affairs Commission and the Chesapeake Veterans Alliance, a claim clinic and information fair will be held at Anne Arundel Community College on July 26,  staffed by U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veteran Service Representatives and Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Benefits Specialists. For information, contact John Church, chair of the Veterans Affairs Commission at jockochurch@aol.com. 

RESOURCES

Reveille Grounds Connects Military Families with Resources and Opportunity
With a sea of resources available to veterans and military families can at times be overwhelming. That's why Reveille Grounds hosts The Baltimore Military Muster at South Baltimore's Checker Spot Brewing Company. The volunteer-led group meets on the second Wednesday of each month to highlight area governmental agencies, non-profits and businesses dedicated to serving the military community. Learn more HERE.

Veteran Friendly Voice: Keeping Former Defenders Connected
As the pandemic stretched into a second year, AARP joined forces with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to launch Veteran Friendly Voice. Learn more about this peer-to-peer support network HERE.

Federal Housing Grants Can Help Veterans Age in Place. Read how housing adaptation grants from the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs (VA) can help cover home renovation costs, enabling veterans to age in place. VA money is available to install ramps, widen doorways and make other needed renovations. 

Military Spouses and Unemployment: Overcoming Barriers to Success
In 2021, 21 percent of active-duty military spouses in the labor force were unemployed, a rate nearly four times higher than the general unemployment rate. A new AARP.org/Veterans story features firsthand accounts that address the stigma, frequent moves and employment gaps military spouses face, and lists resources and tips that military spouses can use to overcome these barriers.

New to the State? Check out the Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs "Landing Zone"
The Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs "Landing Zone" page is a one-stop shop for information and resources designed to help you and your family settle comfortably in Maryland. Check it out HERE. And don't forget to sign-up for their bi-monthly newsletter!