Services for veterans top priority at health fair
By Joey Pitchford
Published in News on November 16, 2017 5:50 AM
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Donald Wooten with the Disabled American Veterans speaks to Justin Jenkins about filing possible claims Wednesday during a health fair held at the Veterans Affairs Community Based Outpatient Clinic. Around 25 vendors provided veterans with vaccinations and health tests, informational booklets and gun and fire safety items.
The Goldsboro Community Based Outpatient Clinic held its third annual Veterans Health Fair Wednesday morning, giving local veterans the opportunity to learn about services available to them through Veterans Affairs.
Beginning around 8 a.m., the fair included a plethora of informative booths, many giving veterans the chance to sign up for programs and benefits they may not have even known existed.
Justin Jenkins, a four-year Air Force veteran, was one such attendee. Despite working nights, he got up in the morning to visit the health fair, and came away knowing at least a bit more than he did going in.
"I've been here about an hour now," he said with a laugh. "And apparently I qualify for some stuff I didn't even know about."
As a steady flow of people filtered through the booths, nurse manager Nicole Williford walked around directing veterans to booths they may not have seen yet. Williford organized the health fair, working for around three or four months to bring in veteran care specialists from all over. She said that she hoped the fair helped those who did not know what kinds of benefits they were entitled to.
"One of the reasons we want to have this is to let people know that we are here, and all the services we have," she said. "This year was a lot easier to get together, and we have a lot of new people who have entered the area."
Booths filled the rear area of the clinic, dealing with issues from behind-the-eye bleeding to health insurance and mental health. The Goldsboro Police Department and Goldsboro Fire Department also took part, with booths on gun safety and fire safety, respectively.
Sitting in a chair set just off from the main hallway, retired Marine Cpl. Keith Bridgers watched staff and other veterans walk past. The GCBOC is Bridgers' primary care facility, evident as he greeted passing staff members with familiarity. He said he appreciated the work GCBOC had done in making navigating VA benefits easier.
"They look out for us real good. They take care of hospital bills, medication, my hearing aids," he said, gesturing to his ear. "The VA is a blessing to the veterans, they really do care about the veterans and their families."