Veterans invited to attend resouce fair

The McHenry County Veterans Resource Fair & Stand Down will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, April 23, at the McHenry Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4600, 3002 W. Route 120, McHenry.

This free, informative event will include more than 20 organizations that provide services to veterans. It also will include a job placement fair.

The event is open to anyone who served in any branch of the U.S. military, regardless of their dates of service or discharge status. Representatives of organizations who are interested in learning about services available to veterans are also welcome to attend.

The fair will offer health screenings, VA benefits screening, benefits enrollment, legal and financial services, recreational opportunities and several other programs and services.

The job fair will include many employers who have immediate job openings. Homeless veterans will be offered shelter and opportunities for permanent housing. All veterans who are residents of McHenry County will receive a free, hot lunch.

Sue Rose, community services director of McHenry County Housing Authority, is one of the steering team members for the event.

Rose said, "This Veterans Resource Fair & Stand Down will be more comprehensive than last year's event because we have expanded the scope of services that are offered at the fair."

Mike Iwanicki, another steering team member and superintendent of the Veterans Assistance Commission, said, "Those who attend the Veterans Resource Fair & Stand Down will be pleased to find that all of the services they need will be in one easy to access location."