One of the best ways to honor and thank veterans on Veterans Day is to ensure that they receive the support, resources, and benefits they are entitled to. And for those veterans residing in the Quad Cities area, services and resources abound, and providers are ready and willing to help. It is a wonderful and collaborative community that loves their veterans.
The Quad Cities Community Veterans Engagement Board, a military advisory committee of UnityPoint Health – Trinity, is planning the 2025 Veterans Experience Action Center for June 27 and 28. It is at this event that previous attendees have remarked that it was “life-changing” and “impactful” for them and their families. Veterans can access VA healthcare, benefits, and burial services, local health and mental health services, county and state veteran service officers, QC Veterans Outreach Center, and MetroLINK for free bus rides. Additional services include dental screening, legal, trauma recovery, employment, housing, and so much more.
A new social group for women, Women Veterans of the Quad Cities, was established in June 2024 and has an ever-growing membership of 40 fabulous women. They meet the second Wednesday of every month.
The Quad Cities Veterans Outreach Center in Davenport has 4,000 registered veterans who can access varied and unique services, such as a monthly food pantry, free haircuts, a book and CD lending library, computer access, sewing classes, and a gift shop open to the public featuring veteran-made products.
If a veteran is looking for a job or an employer is looking for employees, they need look no further than the QC Veterans Network. Its mission is to make a connection between transitioning or under-employed veterans and the business community that leads to future employment. If an employer is looking for a team member who will show up every day at the right place and time ready to work, with leadership skills, who can work as part of a team, and is trainable, then they should be looking for a veteran. The network meets the third Thursday of every month.
The Iowa City VA Medical Center is just a one-hour drive from the Quad Cities and local VA services can be accessed at the QC VA Clinic on West Locust in Davenport, the Community Resource and Referral Center on North Perry in Davenport, and at the QC Vet Center on Avenue of the Cities in East Moline. Veteran Service Officers also stand ready to serve veterans in all our counties.
To learn more, email [email protected].
Sherri Behr DeVrieze is co-chair of the Quad Cities Community Veterans Engagement Board and Military Program coordinator at UnityPoint Health – Trinity. She can be reached at [email protected].
