Northwest Indiana Military Support Network Guide 1 2 This guide is designed to help those Veteran and Military Families who are in need of assistance in Northwest Indiana (Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Starke and Marshall Counties). Throughout these pages you will find both Veteran specif- ic agencies and information along with local non-profits who help to serve those in need. All information is in alphabetical order and was compiled through the efforts of the United Way RSVP of Northwest Indiana, AmeriCorps, the NWI Military Support Network and Pines Village Retirement Communities. Remember you can call or txt 211 (txt zip code to 898-211 Monday thru Friday 9am –3pm) for the most up to date resources/information . On the first two pages you will find names and numbers for your first point of contact for emergency needs. County Veteran Service Officers The County Veteran Service Officers are a local point of contact for veterans in their county to assist with veteran issues. Their services are free. They will help gather necessary information to support, file and track claims through the VA system. They can also assist with filing appeals for denied claims. Below is the County Veteran Service Officers list. If not listed, you can call 888 777-4443 for help. Also listed is the “BIG 5” Veteran Service Organizations where you can also find assistance. AMVETS Marshall County VSO VFW www.amvets.in.org 112 W. Jefferson Street; www.vfwin.org Room 306 American Legion Plymouth, Indiana 46563 Vietnam Veterans of America www.indianalegion.org 274-935-8546 www.vva.org Ask for Pam Schweizer-Betz DAV [email protected] www.indianadav.org Open Monday– Thursday 8am– 4pm La Porte County VSO 555 Michigan Avenue; Porter County VSO Suite 105 155 Indiana Avenue Ste. 103 Special Thanks to: LaPorte, Indiana 46350 Valparaiso, Indiana 46383 219-326-6808 219-465-3587 Ask for George Watkins Ask for Jim Atkinson NWI Military [email protected] [email protected] Open Monday– Friday Open Monday– Friday 8am –4pm Support 8:30am - 4:30pm Lake County VSO Network 2293 North Main Street; Starke County VSO Building A Room 311 53 E Mound Street Crown Point, Indiana 46307 Knox, Indiana 46534 219-755-3285 574-772-9132 Ask for Ray Guiden or Ask for Mark Gourley Jason Gootee [email protected] [email protected] Open Monday, Tuesday & Open Monday-Thursday Wednesday 8am - 4pm closed 8:30am - 4:30pm by Noon till 1pm Friday Walk-ins 9am - Noon 3 Veteran’s First Point of Contact 24hr Crisis Hotline E Benefits Military One Source 800-273-8255 option 1 www.ebenefits.va.gov Military OneSource is your central hub and go-to-place for 844-MyVA311 (844-698-2311) Edward Hines the military community Provides a seamless, Chicago 708-202-8387 www.militaryonesource.com unified experience for Veterans South Bend VA Outpatient when they don’t know what VA Clinic-866-436-1291 or 574- Military Service Records number to call 299-4847 Request Military Personnel Records Adam Benjamin VA Clinic Gary Area Vet Center 1Achive Drive 9301 Madison Street 107 East 93rd Avenue St. Louis MO 63138 Crown Point, Indiana 46307 Crown Point, Indiana 46307 www.archives.gov 219-662-5000 219-736-5633 or 877-927-8387 Open Monday-Friday 8am to Myhealthevet ABJ Audiology Services 4:30pm 877-327-0022 By appointment only www.myhealth.va.gov 888-569-5282 or 312-569-6169 GI Bill Education Benefits Vanessa Klos, Au.D. 219-662- 888-442-4551 Roudebush VA Center 5039 www.in.gov/dva/2356.htm 317-554-0000 www.indianapolis.va.gov/ ABJ Dental Clinic Health Care Benefits or 9301 Madison Street Application Questions Rural Veteran Support Crown Point, Indiana 46307 Program Information www.ruralhealth.va.gov 219-662-5075 877-222-8387 www.va.gov/healthbenefits/ VA Care Giver Support ABJVA Service Officers Eligibility Information Program 219-662-5089 www.va.gov/healthbenefits/ www.caregiver.va.gov Ask for Fannie Brooks apply/veterans.asp Monday, Wednesday & Friday How to Apply VA Crisis Hotline 1-4pm 800-273-8255 press 1 www.1010ez.med.va.gov ChampVA Medical Care Application & General Info. www.veteranscrisisline.net For Dependents/Suvivors/ www.explore.va.gov/health- Veterans care VA Regional Office 800-733-8387 Service connected pension IDVA Regional Office benefits claims updates forms DAV Transportation Services 302 W. Washington Street 800-827-1000 Lake County:219-662-5008 Room E120 La Porte County:219-221-6660 Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 Veteran Stop Smoking Line Shuttle Service is provided 317-232-3910 or 855-784-8838 Monday– Friday Only 800-400-4520/800-827-1000 www.smokefree.gov/vet Shuttles Departs ABJ at7:30, Women Veterans 9:30am &1:30pm 575 N. Pennsylvania Street www.Vets.gov Arrives JBVA at 8:45, 10:45am Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 Let’s veterans discover, apply &3:15 pm 317-916-3462-Patricia McAtee for, track and manage the 317-232-3910-Laura McKee Departs JBVA at 11:30am, 1:30 benefits they’ve earned. &3:45pm Arrives ABJ at 1:30, 3:00 & Jesse Brown VA Med. Center 5:15pm 820 Damen Avenue Chicago, Illinois 60612 312-569-8387 4 Index Banking & Financial…………….….……Page 4 Legal………………………..…………...Page 11 Childcare…………………………..……..Page 5 Medical………………….……….Pages 11 & 12 Discounts…………………...……..……...Page 5 Mental Health & Support Groups….…...Page 12 Education………………….………..…….Page 6 Trustees By County……..………….Pages 13-16 Emergency Funds………………..……….Page 6 Veteran Services: Miscellaneous………..Page 16 Employment………………………….…..Page 7 Veteran Service Officers……………..….Page 17 End of Life Services………...…………....Page 7 Women Veterans……..……………...…..Page 17 Family Program & Food Services…….….Page 8 Local American Legion Posts, DAV’s and Housing/Utility Assistance...…....Pages 9 & 10 VFW’s in Northwest Indiana……....Pages 18-21 Insurance………………………...…..….Page 10 Banking & Financial Armed Forces Tax Guide Greater Hammond My Pay www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/ Community Services Www.mypay.dfas.mil/ 824 Hoffman Street mypay.aspx Centier Bank Hammond, Indiana 46327 https://www.centier.com 219-932-4800 Northwest Indiana Search Veterans 275 E. 29th Avenue Community Action Lake Station., Indiana 46405 502 Wall Street #102 Chase Bank 219-963-0261 Valparaiso, Indiana 46383 www.greaterhammond.com 219-464-9220 www.chasemilitary.com FAFSA Fridays at United Pension Benefit Guaranty Consumer Credit Counseling Way Porter County Corporation 800 E.. 86th Avenue Suite B. 951 Eastport Centre Drive www.benefits.va.gov/pension Merrillville, Indiana 46410 Valparaiso, Indiana 46383 www.explore.va.gov/pension 1-800-982-4801 219-951-3583 www.cccsnwi.org Ask for Anicia Kosky Taxpayer Advocate Service www.unitedwaypc.org/FAFSA 1-877-777-4778 Disability Compensation www.irs.gov/advocate Questions My Free Tax www.benefits.va.gov/ 1-855-698-9435 TransUnion Free Credit compensation/types- www.myfreetaxes.com Report disability.asp 1-800-680-7289 www.explore.va.gov/disability- Fiduciary Benefit www.benefits.va.gov/fiduciary Volunteer Income Tax compensation Assistance Free Credit Report 951 Eastport Centre Drive Experian Free Credit Report Valparaiso, Indiana 46383 1-888-397-3742 www.freecreditreport.com 219-951-3583 www.experian.com Military Wallet Ask for George Kuebler www.militarywallet.com www.unitedwaypc.org (click on get help) 5 Childcare Boys & Girls Clubs Cedar Lake United Methodist Holy Spirit Church Lake County Church 7667 E 109th Avenue 8392 Mississippi Street 7124 W. 137th Place Crown Point, Indiana 46307 Merrillville, Indiana 46410 Cedar Lake, Indiana 46303 219-662-7424 219-881-1060 219-374-7312 Ask for the Office Manager www.bgca.org/pages/ Ask for the Intake Coordinator www.holy-spiritchurch.org index.aspx Duneland YMCA National Association for Boys & Girls Club 215 Roosevelt Street Child Care Resources & Marshall County Chesterton, IN 46304 Referral Agencies 314 E. Jefferson Street 219-926-4204 1-800-424-2246 Plymouth, Indiana 46563 Ask for Jane Delligatti www.childcareaware.org 574-936-0660 www.dunelandymca.org www.nacrra.org/military- http://bgcmarshallcounty.com families Hammond Family YMCA Boys & Girls Club 7322 Southeastern Avenue Valparaiso Family YMCA Michigan City Hammond, Indiana 46324 1201 Cumberland Crossing 321 Detroit Street 219-845-1507 Drive Michigan City, Indiana 46360 www.hammondareaymca.org/ Valparaiso, Indiana 46383 219-873-2298 219-462-4185 Ask for Karen Kintigh Hilltop House Ask for Melissa Stasny 460 College Avenue www.valpoymca.org Boys & Girls Clubs of Porter Valparaiso, Indiana 46383 County-Valparaiso Club 219-477-4222 354 W. Jefferson Street www.hilltophouse.org Valparaiso, Indiana 46383 219-462-2182 Holy Name Church Ask for Mark Jones 11000 W 133rd Avenue www.bgcpoco.org Cedar Lake, Indiana 46303 219-374-7160 Ask for Mary Kselman Discounts 4 Military Families Military Discounts for Porter County Assessor www.usa4militaryfamilies.com Veterans & Military Families 155 Indiana Avenue, Suite 211 /militarydiscounts.htm www.militaryrates.com/ Valparaiso, Indiana 46383 military-discounts 219-465-7065 Amtrack www.amtrak.com/discount- Military Discounts Porter County Discount Card train-fares-for-kids-seniors- www.military.com/discounts 219-465-3465 or visit military-students-and-more www.nwiveterans.com/ www.honorrewards.com discount-and-promotions/ Military Benefits Shades of Green www.militarybenefits.info/ Military Wallet 1-888-593-2242 military-discounts/ www.militarywallet.com/ www.shadesofgreen.org/ military-discounts index.html 6 Education 4 Military Families Military Family Research Valparaiso University www.usa4militaryfamilies.dod. Institute/Purdue University 1700 Chapel Drive mil/MOS/f?p=USA4:HOME:0 1202 West