GREENFIELD — Christopher Demars, a 27-year veteran, didn’t plan on working other veterans after his retirement. “It kind of fell into my lap,” he said.
After serving in the U.S. Army and the National Guard, Demars retired in 2015 and started working at the Upper Pioneer Valley Veterans Services District where he later became the director.
On Monday, the organization will be partnering with Greenfield Community College and the Veterans Administration of Northampton to host an informational session about benefit programs for veterans in the Pioneer Valley. They will discuss enrollment in veterans’ health care, toxic exposure screenings for people who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan, how to place a claim with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, mobility and transportation services, and any questions veterans have on the Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act.
“Our goal is to help as many veterans as we can,” Demars said. The event will run from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on April 29 at Greenfield Community College.
Roughly 5.8% of Franklin County is made up of veterans, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The Upper Pioneer Valley Veterans Services District provides assistance to veterans in nearly all of the towns in Franklin County and also serves Plainfield.
Demars said the most significant way his organization helps veterans and their families is by assisting with claims.
“Claims are life changing, especially to widows who didn’t otherwise have money coming into their homes,” he said.
The organization previously held a successful information session for Vietnam War veterans a few years ago, Demars said.
“I don’t expect this program to be as big, but it’s two hours, so we’ll see what we can do,” he said.
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