When people think about The Ave they usually think about our vast array of multicultural restaurants or the over 200 other retailers and professional offices scattered along our 10-block Downtown district.  But tucked into the standard commercial entities, we have very important resources available to our community. This week, we want to spotlight a couple of resources for our military veterans.

Veteran’s Multi-service Center (VMC) is a not-for-profit organization offering supportive services for veterans and their families to assist in securing and maintaining permanent housing in the New Jersey area. The organization also has locations in Pennsylvania, and Delaware.  VMC can assist veterans and their families in developing a plan, obtaining housing options, negotiating with landlords, obtaining VA benefits and other public benefits, including legal assistance, as well as developing budgeting skills and assisting with employment services.

Peter Wine, program manager of Supportive Services for Veteran’s families, says that the mission statement of Veteran’s Multi-service Center is to make veteran homelessness rare, brief, non-recurring and as painless as possible.

If you are a homeless veteran, or know one, you can contact VMC at its 616 East Landis Avenue office in Vineland by calling 856-293-7321 or going to their website: [email protected].

VMC also asks that if you are a landlord with a property that you would like to make available for rent to a homeless veteran, please contact the organization.

A few blocks west of the VMC is the Cumberland County VA Clinic, located at 79 W. Landis Avenue. This is a veterans outpatient clinic which offers general medical care, including primary care, audiology and speech services, behavioral health, laboratory services, PSTS treatment, smoking and tobacco cessation, and more. Its hours are Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and they may be reached at 800-461-8262, ext. 4805.

* * *

Remember that you can double your spending power at select businesses in our downtown district by purchasing a $25 or $50 AVE Bucks Gift Card and getting a free $25 or $50 Gift Card in return. For more information and to purchase gift cards, visit: theave.biz/hot-topic/ave-bucks/n

For more information on Main Street Vineland’s initiatives, programs, and activities, call our office at 856-794-8653, visit theave.biz—or check out facebook.com/mainstreetvineland. You can also e-mail me at [email protected].