Governor Gretchen Whitmer's administration is giving counties in Michigan to use the state's County Veteran Service Fund (CVSF) grants directly for COVID-19 emergency assistance to veterans and their families.
The move, facilitated by the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency (MVAA), will allow veterans to make vehicle and home repairs, pay medical expenses, buy groceries and personal care items and meet other needs determined urgent. As part of this effort, the MVAA has also teamed with Meijer to provide grocery vouchers to veterans in participating counties.
“We will do everything in our power to support Michigan’s veterans and their families who are struggling financially because of the global COVID-19 pandemic,” Governor Whitmer said. “We’re encouraging counties to use these state-appropriated funds to provide direct relief for these brave men and women to help them put food on the table for their families, make essential repairs to their homes and vehicles, pay doctor bills and meet other basic needs.”
Through the emergency relief effort, MVAA is teaming up with Meijer to offer $50 and $100 grocery vouchers to eligible veterans in counties that opt into the voucher program. Vouchers can only be used to purchase food, paper products, laundry and household cleaning products, health and beauty care items and pet food.
“Meijer is committed to enriching lives in the communities we serve, and that holds especially true in today’s new normal,” Meijer President and CEO Rick Keyes said. “We are pleased to partner once again with the State of Michigan to ensure that veterans and their families can purchase the essentials they need.”
The emergency relief is available to counties that were previously approved for CVSF grants but now want to amend the grants to offer emergency relief directly to veterans. Some counties were slated to spend CVSF grants on veteran outreach and activities but were unable due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. The emergency relief is also available to counties that either did not qualify or chose not to apply for CVSF grants.
“The County Veteran Service Fund Emergency Relief program highlights our commitment to ensure that the needs of our veterans and their families continue to be met during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond,” said MVAA Director Zaneta Adams. “This program will get much-needed assistance directly into the hands of veterans, either through the County Veterans Services Offices or through the MVAA, which is available to veterans and their families 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1-800-MICH-VET.”
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