Category: Iowa

By Jennifer Cleveland, Support Services, FAVA  Forest City Puckerbrush Days is a two-day annual community event held every July in Forest City, Iowa. This year, the Forest City Lions Club sponsored the parade and the registration fees went towards programs designed to help local children and adults that are hearing impaired.   In addition to a […]

By Darrell Mayo, Veteran Advocate Paul Andres is a U.S. Army Veteran who is now helping WestCare take care of other Veterans suffering from homelessness. Paul was born on the Marshall Islands in the South Pacific. He speaks both English and the Marshallese language. Shortly after finishing high school in 2011, Paul enlisted in the […]

By Jon Hanni, Data Entry Specialist On Saturday, May 21, the Family Alliance for Veterans in America (FAVA) team in Forest City, Iowa, participated in a “Poker Run” organized by the American Legion Motorcycle Riders from Osage, Iowa. Their organization had contacted FAVA to be a part of a stop on the run, which was […]

By Jennifer Cleveland, Support Services For the past several years, the WestCare Iowa/Family Alliance for Veterans of America (FAVA) has been generously awarded funds to be able to provide everyday necessities to Veteran households. With these funds, we can purchase items such as food, hygiene products, Christmas gifts, fuel cards, etc. With the funds granted […]

By Darrell Mayo, SSVF Veteran Advocate Helping Veterans with their long-term care to escape homelessness is a team effort. Not only must they overcome their individual troubles such as drug and alcohol abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other ailments – but many Veterans must also learn to navigate through their lives while also having […]

By Darrell Mayo, SSVF Veteran Advocate, FAVA  The Family Alliance for Veterans of America (FAVA) office in Sioux City would like to highlight the contributions of Sue May, Veteran Career Planner at the IowaWORKS program in Sioux City, which connects employers with job seekers. In her role, she helps Vets build their resumes, enroll into […]

By Tami Nelson, Veteran Advocate Thank you, Harper Levy, HUD-VASH Program Supervisor from the VA Community Resource and Referral Center in Des Moines, Iowa, for sharing information with WestCare Iowa’s Family Alliance for Veterans of America (FAVA) program! We were informed that the Charles City Elks Lodge #418 had received two grants (Elks Beacon Grant […]

By Molly Henderson, Veteran Advocate, WestCare Iowa/Family Alliance for Veterans of America (FAVA) In Lakota, Iowa, located in Kossuth County, Hunting with Heroes is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization that has been busy enhancing the welfare and recovery of wounded and non-wounded active U.S. Military personnel and Veterans by providing physical and emotional healing through the hunting and […]

By Darlene Terrill, Regional Administrator of Iowa Operations Family Alliance for Veterans of America (FAVA) gained a dedicated employee when Barbara “Barb” Ruiter started in October of 2013. She is the first contact for many that enter the office looking for assistance and the primary person to answer the incoming calls. She knows absolutely everyone […]

By Barbara Ruiter, Data Entry, WestCare Iowa/FAVA When private donor, Jodi Eliason, stopped by the WestCare Iowa/Family Alliance for Veterans of America (FAVA) office, she was carrying a donation of 15 handmade mats woven out of plastic bags. She wanted to give the mats to us for the homeless Veterans to keep them warm this […]