Culver’s teams up with VACBC to raise money for local veterans

By Matt Helm
Reporter
BELVIDERE ─ Culver’s Restaurant in Belvidere raised funds for local veterans on Monday, April 4 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. with ten percent of purchases donated to the Veterans Assistance Commission of Boone County (VACBC).
“We are grateful to Culver’s and are pleased and thankful for their help; without them, this wouldn’t be possible,” VACBC Superintendent Robert Ryder said. “If we can raise a couple of hundred dollars tonight that would be nice, but we are also focused on getting our name out there and saying thank you. The goodwill is important to us.”
The VACBC was established three years ago.
“Many people don’t know that state law requires every county to have veterans’ assistance, but only half of the counties in Illinois actually have one,” Ryder said. “The local veterans from the Veterans of Foreign Wars made a good effort to educate the county board that there was a real need in our community for an organization like the VACBC.”
The mission of the VACBC is to provide services for Honorably Discharged local veterans with financial and emotional difficulties.
“There are many veterans living on Social Security and if they have a medical emergency or a car breakdown or even need food to eat we can help them,” Ryder said. “We also provide emotional counseling and support.”
The money raised at Culver’s will directly support local veterans.
“We have two funds, our first is the general fund that is supported by tax payer money and veterans must meet certain guidelines to qualify for assistance,” Ryder said. “The money raised tonight goes to our second fund, which is our donation fund. It will help those who don’t qualify for the general fund.”
The VACBC provides help with transportation for medical appointments and also helps process VA claims.
“The paper work can sometimes be daunting for veterans and we are trained on how to do all that,” Assistant Superintendent Brian Brooks said. “I’ve also driven veterans to medical services. I’ve been here for a year and a half now and I enjoy helping them out. Veterans are a valuable part of our community and we are just trying to get the word out there about the VACBC.”
Recently the VACBC highlighted the work of women veterans.
“We held a women’s veteran appreciation day to say thank you as a part of Women’s History Month,” Veterans Services Coordinator Kathy Reed said. “These women may be a smaller part of the veteran population but they made sacrifices and took on a large responsibility.”
The VACBC hopes its ties with the community will only strengthen with time.
“We just want to show the community at large and the veterans in our community what services are available to them,” Reed said. “We are breaking down stereotypes and breaking barriers and fostering open communication with the community and I think that is the most exciting part about tonight.”