First Veterans Health Fair in Oxford Deemed a Success

By Alyssa Schnugg
Staff writer
alyssa.schnugg@hottytoddy.com

Oxford’s veteran organizations teamed up with Humana Insurance Company to put on the first Veterans Health Fair at the Veterans Building Wednesday.

About 20 local organizations, businesses and nonprofits gathered inside the Veteran’s Building to share information to more than 100 veterans who attended the health fair.

“We are working with the local veteran groups in Oxford today to put on a sort of veterans’ appreciation day by hosting this health fair,” said Larry Malatesta, with Humana.
Humana also donated a 50-inch television that was raffled off during the day with the proceeds going back to the veteran organizations.
The Veterans of Foreign War donated a bicycle that was also raffled.
“We just want our veterans to get the information they need to understand the benefits they are entitled to,” said Jerry Bratton, a local member of the Disabled American Veterans and senior vice commander for the department for the state DAV organization. “We’ve had a good crowd all day.”
Local organizations like RSVP, Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi, the Mississippi State Veterans Home and Leisure Lifestyles set up tables to provide information.
Deb Helms, director of Oxford Leisure Lifestyles said she enjoyed learning about the veteran organizations and other organizations at the event.
“We learned a lot about them and we told them about what we offer,” she said.

The Department of Veterans Affairs in Memphis brought its mobile benefit trailer to provide information about available benefits as well as several representatives from the various service departments, like Jackie Owens, Minority Veterans Program Coordinator.
“My main job is working with minorities but today I’ve reached out to all veterans,” she said. “It’s been awesome.”

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