PHOENIXVILLE, PA – Imagine that your spouse is deployed overseas and you are left to care for your family alone. Your family income is half of what it had been, your family and friends want to be supportive but can’t possibly understand the stress and the burdens you now carry alone. Imagine that you are just back from a year’s deployment in Iraq. You are very glad to be home, but home isn’t the same anymore. Your family has carried on without you, your job is gone … nothing is the same.

These scenarios are being played out time and time again right here in the greater Phoenixville area. Families are suffering, and often crumbling, under the strain. For many, they have never had to ask for, or seek, help. This, too, is a hard pill to swallow.

The Phoenixville Area Military & Family Support Initiative is a local initiative of the Phoenixville Community Health Foundation in partnership with the American Legion, the VFW, the Chester and Montgomery County Departments of Veterans Affairs, the Marine Corps League and local concerned veterans. It is designed to assist military personnel – both veterans and active duty – and their families in accessing federal, state and local benefits, plus community benefits, to assist through a difficult time.

The Phoenixville Community Health Foundation’s Board of Directors set as a goal in the Foundation’s Strategic Plan to find a way to assist local military personnel and their families. “This strategic plan goal seemed very daunting but we were determined to find a way to fulfill it,” said Lou Beccaria the President & CEO of the Foundation. “Lynn Hartman, our Senior Program Officer, and I looked at each other and asked ‘How are we to know how to help?’. We gathered together some local veterans and began a dialog. This group was so thankful that someone cared to ask how they could help. The group has grown as the word has spread and together we have mapped out a plan of action. This group has been enthusiastic, energetic and committed. They have shown incredible leadership in true military style”

What is clear to this group is that there are many services currently available to military families. What is also clear is that accessing these services is very difficult. This initiative is designed to assist with identifying and accessing the services available on the federal, state and local level, plus help with accessing community-based services. The Phoenixville Area Military & Family Initiative will be at the Phoenixville Dogwood Festival in Reeves Park from Monday May 10th through Saturday May 15th. The booth will be staffed by local veteran Service Officers from the American Legion, the VFW and the Marine Corps League. The goal of this initiative to make sure that military and their families get what they need to see them through difficult times. Those visiting the booth during Dogwood Festival will have the opportunity to register to win a free six-month family membership to the Phoenixville YMCA and other gifts.

This will be the maiden voyage for this Initiative. From here the service will grow with the development of a website and more community outreach.

Event Flyer May 10-15 2010 (Adobe PDF)