Central Ohio VA staff pitch VA at VetsAid benefit concert

During Veterans Day weekend, Central Ohio VA employees were in full force to support Veterans and seek volunteers at the 2022 VetsAid benefit concert.

The benefit concert, hosted by Joe Walsh of the Eagles, is his annual way to support Veteran initiatives. All proceeds from concert tickets and promotional items go to Veteran programs.

The concert was held at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.

For this sixth benefit concert, Walsh reunited with the James Gang for “One Last Ride” with special guests Dave Grohl, Nine Inch Nails, The Black Keys and The Breeders. All the musicians who played are native Ohioans. The show was sold out to a crowd of over 13,000.

“We had to be there to enroll Veterans.”

Traci Washington, chief of the Center for Development & Civic Engagement (CDCE) at Central Ohio VA, knew VA had to get involved. “With an entire arena of Veteran supporters, we had to be there to enroll Veterans and promote volunteer opportunities at VA.”

She was correct, as over two dozen Veterans requested to be enrolled for their VA health care, and numerous people from all over the country asked to be contacted to support their local VA as a volunteer. The concert was livestreamed for those who wanted to support virtually.

In addition to the outreach table, the VetsAid producer offered a few minutes of stage time for VA to discuss VA care with the crowd.

VA social worker invited on stage to talk VA

Social worker Heather Seymour took the stage and educated the crowd on the benefits of the newly passed PACT Act and spoke about the benefits of volunteering for their local VA.

Seymour shared a touching story of a Veteran who was facing extremely difficult times and was thinking of suicide. The Veteran decided to enroll in VA and, after treatment, was able to turn their life around and have a sense of purpose again.

Seymour reminded the crowd, “If you are a Veteran, seek out your care at your local VA. They are there to support you.”

An arena filled with people supporting Veteran initiatives

During the concert, employees from Central VA’s Whole Health, Social Work, CDCE and enrollment engaged concert goers to ensure they had the most recent information to support Veterans, caregivers and their families.

According to one of the concert goers, “It is truly humbling to be in an arena filled with people who want to support Veteran initiatives and be able to see some excellent bands. It is a once in a lifetime experience that I am glad to be a part of.”

If you would like to volunteer your time to a local VA, visit www.volunteer.va.gov.  If you are a Veteran and would like to enroll for services, visit www.va.gov.