Harper College hosts veterans resource fair
Despite the best intentions, a room full of pamphlets and tables detailing services benefiting veterans could be daunting to some.
Harper College in Palatine hosted a Veterans Resources Night Wednesday hoping to draw veterans of all backgrounds. Volunteers from veterans support groups shared information about their programs. Some focused on helping veterans find jobs. Other groups hoped to help those who served the military with scholarships.
Marine Corps member Marco Melo walked around the resource room hoping to find a job lead. The Hoffman Estates man is enrolled at Harper and has been unemployed since 2008. The economy has affected everyone, but he said it's hit veterans harder.
"It's because we spent the earlier parts of our lives behind the curve, doing a lot of the jobs that don't translate in the civilian world," Melo said.
Melo praised Harper's veterans services, including the efforts of its new Student Veterans Association. Melo said the school has hired more staff this year to assist Thomas Warfield, Harper's veterans assistant. College officials said Harper has more than 360 veterans enrolled this term, which is 20 more than the previous high.
"We are a military-friendly school thanks to our student military," said Earl Dowling, Harper's director of student financial services.
This was Harper's first veterans fair, organized with help from the U.S. Department of Labor, the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs and 44th District state Rep. Fred Crespo's office. Alexian Brothers Medical Center also helped.
"These resource fairs don't happen everywhere. They don't happen at every school," said Dan Grant, director of the state department of veterans affairs. "This is a direct result of individuals stepping up and doing something because it's the right thing to do, doing something that serves veterans."
Grant said the biggest thing veterans could do is speak with a veterans resource officer, such as Jim Lopez who works out of the Schaumburg Township administration office in Hoffman Estates. Others suggest that veterans should ensure they're properly registered to be eligible for governmental assistance.
Tony Vieceli walked from table to table sipping his coffee eager to see what assistance could be offered.
"You never know what you'll find," he said.
The Mount Prospect man served the Army in World War II in the Philippines. He said he was ashamed that despite all the veterans groups represented on Wednesday that some veterans were not receiving the proper help.
He said sometimes with all the publications detailing services, it was overwhelming. Groups represented on Wednesday included the Hines VA Hospital in the western suburbs, SALUTE Inc. from Arlington Heights and the Legal Assistance Fund of Metropolitan Chicago.
For more information about Harper's veterans service check out goforward.harpercollege.edu/page.cfm?p=4428.