If you’re a veteran in Greene County with a concern or problem and looking for support, the Greene County Office of Veterans Affairs is ready to assist you and your family.
“Our job is to help veterans with compensation and pension claims, healthcare applications (VA hospitals and Champ VA), DIC and pension claims, life insurance, funeral and burial benefit claims, education benefits, home loans, veterans license plates, emergency assistance, flags and holders for deceased veterans’ graves, and organizing Memorial Day and Veterans Day events across the county,” says Kathy Cipcic, Director/CVSO of the Greene County Office of Veterans Affairs. Annually, about 3,000 Veterans seek assistance through her office.
In addition to assisting veterans with their claims, the office is very involved in community events, especially those for veterans. “We participate and assist the veterans’ organizations in all of the programs that are presented, along with attending the events. We also help the veterans organizations with getting flags and flag holders to honor and remember our veterans who have served the county.
The Greene County Office of Veterans Affairs recently completed their first annual Veteran’s Expo. Twenty-eight vendors provided information and tips on benefits, social networking, jobs, housing, finances, and mental and physical health. The expo was provided for all veterans in the area, not just Greene County residents. For the first year, there was good participation and they anticipate an increase in both vendors and veteran participation in the future.
Kathy, born and raised in Greene County, has worked in the VA office for 18 years and has been with the County for 28 years. The office staff consists of County Veterans Services Officers (CVSO) and they are dedicated to acquiring for veterans the benefits they deserve for serving our country. The staff even employs some of their outside talents to help at work, shares Kathy. “One employee is a crafter and we have used that to help with some of our projects.”
“I know when I get up every morning that I am going to be helping someone better their future,” Kathy shares. “I used my talents [after graduating at Penn State] to stay here in the county and work with county people.”
FMI on the Greene County Office of Veterans Affairs, please call 724-852-5275 or visit www.co.greene.pa.us.
