Veterans' resources
Grays Harbor County Public Health & Social Services Department
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Veterans Relief Fund Ombudsman/Dedicated Service Officer
Gwyn Tarrence has been selected as your Veterans Relief Fund Ombudsman.
Tarrence is a Marine Corps veteran with a long history of service to her fellow veterans. She is currently the commander of American Legion Post 5 in Aberdeen, taking the post initially in 2011. Tarrence is a veterans service officer, operating through the Veterans Connections Cafe in Westport and through Stafford Creek Corrections Center.
As your Ombudsman, she is available to help you navigate the benefits the Veterans Relief Fund has to offer. Contact her at 360-660-2640 or veteranrelief@graysharbor.us.
Gwyn Tarrence
Veterans' Advisory Board
The Grays Harbor County Veterans' Advisory Board was established by Grays Harbor County Resolution 2005-65. The board provides advice to the Grays Harbor County Board of County Commissioners on the needs of local indigent veterans.
The Veterans' Advisory Board meets on the first Wednesday of March, June, September, and December at 2pm in the Commissioners' office located at 100 West Broadway, Suite #1 in Montesano, WA.
For more information about Veterans' Advisory Board meetings and materials contact (360) 500-4069 or wweber@graysharbor.us.
Veterans' Relief Fund
The Revised Code of Washington (RCW 73.08) requires all 39 counties to establish a Veterans' Relief Fund.
The Veterans' Relief Fund may be able to help with rent, utilities, food, and other needs.
This is a fund of last resort and in no way can it be construed as a veteran's benefit.
All applications must be filed with local service officers at veteran support organizations. Please contact your local service officer to discuss making an application.
To apply for assistance from Grays Harbor County Veterans' Relief Fund, you must have been honorably discharged, have been a resident of Grays Harbor County for at least 6 months, and have income below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level.
When contacting service officers, it may be helpful to bring:
a copy of your DD-214
proof of residency
proof of income
any shut-off or eviction notices requiring payment
If you are denied assistance or feel that you have been discriminated against, you have the right to file an appeal and request that a full explanation of the reasons why you were denied assistance be put in writing.
Service officer contact information
Amvets Post 1926
Montesano
315 S Main Street
Montesano, WA 98563
(360) 249-3644
Amvetspost1926@outlook.com
Veterans of Foreign Wars Henry L. Robb Post 1135
407 Seventh Street
Hoquiam, WA 98550
(360) 532-0510
vfwpost1135@yahoo.com
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2455
315 S Main Street
Montesano, WA 98563
(360) 249-3644
vfw2455monte@gmail.com
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5564
156 N Summit Road
McCleary, WA 98557
(360) 470-2387
vfwpost5564@gmail.com
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8956
953 Trent Ct SE
Ocean Shores, WA 98569
(360) 591-7595
post8956@coastaccess.com
Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) Chapter #512
Ocean Shores, WA 98563
(360) 940-9008
retiredvance@gmail.com
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 224
112 W First Street
Aberdeen, WA 98520
(360) 533-1338 nancyholderman@comcast.net
American Legion Post 5
112 W 1st Street
Aberdeen WA 98520
(360) 580-0561
gtarrence@rocketmail.com
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1948
Elma Grange
401 Waldrip Street
Elma, WA 98541
(360) 482-6161
benjamin.g.scofield@gmail.com
American Legion Post 140
211 E Pacific Avenue
Westport WA 98595
(928) 636-4515
767GJG@gmail.com
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3057
211 E Pacific Avenue
Westport, WA 98595
(360) 268-9543
vfw2455monte@gmail.com
Veteran’s Advisory Board Members:
Vice Chair - Mike Harris: mikeharris1844@gmail.com
Chair - Bill Wickwire: santabill4425@gmail.com
Reese Wade: reesewade@hotmail.com
Kenji Seta: kenjiseta@gmail.com
Russ Russell: olrussell@hotmail.com
Board of County Commissioner representative - Jill Warne: jwarne@graysharbor.us
Additional resources for Veterans
A study conducted by NIH (National Institute of Health) found that veterans are twice as likely to develop dementia. Aside from the normal aging process, traumatic brain injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder make veterans more vulnerable to dementia than the general population.
To help veterans and their families, MemoryCare.com created a guide to memory care for veterans. This resource goes over dementia in detail and shares treatment options as well as available VA programs and resources.
You can view the guide here: https://www.memorycare.com/veterans/.