a.	
UNWAVERING SUPPORT 

FOR UNCOMMON HEROES~ 

VETERANS & FAMILY SUPPORT PROGRAM 
Hello and Welcome to fall! 
I am the new chairman of Veterans & Family Support for this year. I am taking over for Inez 
Klein as she recuperates from surgery. We all wish her well and a speedy recovery. 
Veterans & Family support is the heart of our organization. It's for the entire family, not just the 
veteran. We are reminded of that when we take our obligation. Many of our veterans and 
active-duty service members suffer in silence, and their families suffer along with them. Many 
face numerous challenges living day to day. This program helps provide the resources, materials 
and support for these families. 
The program is made up of the following: 
1.	VFW National Veterans Service (NVS) 
2.	VFW Veterans & Military Support contains four programs initiated by the VFW: 
b.	Military Assistance Program (MAP) 
c.	Unmet Needs 
d.	VFW's "Sports Clips Help a Hero Scholarship" Program 
e.	Operation Uplink 
All the components that make up the Veterans & Family Support Program are important. These 
programs serve active-duty and recently discharged military. I wanted to highlight the "Sports 
Clips Help a Hero Scholarship" Program since educational classes are starting. The "Sports Clips 
Help a Hero Scholarship" program might be the help a veteran or service member needs to 
finish up their higher education or to start on that career path they have always wanted. 
The VFW and Sport Clips are giving the gift of scholarships to our nation's heroes as a way of 
thanking them for their dedicated service to our nation. The VFW "Sport Clips Help A Hero 
Scholarship" award scholarships of up to $5,000 to qualifying veterans and service members to 
help them complete their educational goals without incurring excessive student loan debt. To 
learn more, visit www.vfw.org/student-veterans-support.All it takes is a little time to explore 
the website to see if this is right for them. 
It can be challenging to get the word out about all the wonderful programs we offer that 
support our veterans and their families. Be informed and stay up to date on programs that offer 
assistance to our veteran and their families. Make sure you have the most up-to-date 
information on all programs within the Veterans & Family Support Program. Information and 
resources can be found at www.vfwauxiliary.org/resources.
I would also like to share with you VFW Auxiliary National President Peggy Haake's special 
project. The VFW Service Dog Training Program combines two of her passions: veterans and 
dogs. Buddy Poppy/National Home Co-Chair Mary Kay Hanson and myself shared at training 

f.	
another special project of President Peggy which was the path at the National Home. That 
project is the shared project with President Peggy and VFW Commander in Chief Doc Schmitz. 
That special project is under "Buddy" Poppy/National Home. 
The Service Dog Training Program is President Peggy's alone. I have included an information 
sheet for this special project. Remember this project when you are doing your fund raising and 
donations throughout the year. Mark any donations sent to Sharol President Peggy Service Dog 
Training Program. 
There are so many opportunities to help veterans and their families this year. Work with your 
members to continue educating them and the community. All members are encouraged to 
become familiar with the areas within the Veterans & Family Support Program and be able to 
direct a veteran and/or his/her family in need of services. Print and distribute the VFW 
Auxiliary resource rack card. Remember to keep track of how many cards are distributed for 
your yearend report. 
Thank you to every member for your hard work and dedication to serving our veterans, active- 
duty military and their families. Each act, no matter how big or small makes a difference. 
Barb Heap 
barbheap@gmail.com
Serving Our Veterans with Aloha and 
Marching Forward to Serve and Honor our Veterans 

g.	
VFW Auxiliary National President Peggy Haake's special project 
combines two of her passions: veterans and dogs. 

•	The VFW Service Dog Training Program is an initiative of Chung Mei VFW Post 8358, Sacramento, California. 

•	The objective of the program is to give back to veterans, who gave of themselves to serve our country, 
sustaining injuries both visible and those we cannot see. 

•	Their goal is to establish a veteran/K9 bond through training that will result in a life-changing experience for 
both. They will also assist in locating and matching a K9 for a veteran to participate in the training program to 
achieve the best possible service dog. 

Our goal? 
Raise $25,000 to help up to 15 veterans receive a service dog from the program*. 

•	It costs approximately $1,600 to foster a K9 for six months. 
•	There is no charge to the veteran who is receiving the service dog. 
•	They assist in K91ocating, evaluating, matching, and training for veteran adoption. 
•	They help the veteran who already has a K9 and needs assistance with obedience and behavioral issues. 

•	They provide training that complies with the American Disabilities Act (ADA) PTSD Anxiety, Title 2 and Title 3 
protocol. 
•	The training will prepare the veteran and K9 for the Assistance Dog International Public Access standards test. 

* This particular program was selected because it's VFW members helping VFW members; veterans are required to join the 
VFW for a minimum of one (1) year to be e/gib/e for the program. 

DONATE BY MAIL 

Make check payable to: 
VFW Department of California Foundation 
Earmark: VFW Service Dog Program 

Mail check to: 
VFW Department of California Foundation 
c/o VFW Service Dog Program 
9136 Elk Grove Blvd., Suite 100 
Elk Grove, CA 95624