Veterans Assistance Commission of Winnebago County

Women Veterans Community Social
2024-10-15 09:00 - 11:00, 2024-10-22 09:00 - 11:00, 2024-10-29 09:00 - 11:00, 2024-11-05 09:00 - 11:00, 2024-11-12 09:00 - 11:00 (America/Chicago) | Johnny Pamcakes, 3700 East State Street, Rockford, IL, 61108, United States

Coffee Group in Rockford, IL
2024-10-15 13:00 - 14:00, 2024-10-22 13:00 - 14:00, 2024-10-29 13:00 - 14:00, 2024-11-05 13:00 - 14:00, 2024-11-12 13:00 - 14:00 | Starbucks (7474 East State Street), 7474 East State Street, Rockford, IL, 61108, United States

Victory Garden Group in Rockford, IL
2024-10-17 09:00 - 10:00, 2024-10-24 09:00 - 10:00, 2024-10-31 09:00 - 10:00, 2024-11-07 09:00 - 10:00, 2024-11-14 09:00 - 10:00 | Rockford VA Clinic, 816 Featherstone Road, Rockford, IL, 61107, United States

Rock River Valley AmVets Post 922 Monthly Meeting
2024-10-19 10:00 - 11:00 | VFW POST 5149, 922 7th Street, Rockford, IL, 61104, United States

ADTP Aftercare Group in Rockford, IL
2024-10-21 14:00 - 15:00, 2024-10-28 14:00 - 15:00, 2024-11-04 14:00 - 15:00, 2024-11-11 14:00 - 15:00 | Velvet Robot Coffee Lab, 1292 South Alpine Road, Rockford, IL, 61108, United States
Maintain your recovery after completing the Addictive Disorders Treatment Program (ADTP)

Hire A VET
2024-10-23 10:00 - 14:00 | Veteran’s Memorial Hall, 211 North Main St., Rockford, IL, 61101, United States

National Women Veteran United Rockford SheVet Monthly Meeting
2024-10-26 08:00 - 17:00 | VFW POST 5149, 922 7th Street, Rockford, IL, 61104, United States

VFW Post 9759 Monthly Meeting
2024-10-28 19:00 - 20:00 | VFW Post 9759, 2018 Windsor Rd, Loves Park, IL, 61111, United States

rosecrance: "Saluting Veterans"
2024-11-08 08:00 - 15:45 | Veteran’s Memorial Hall, 211 North Main St., Rockford, IL, 61101, United States
Join us on November 8 as we explore a topic we feel passionately about: Supporting our veterans.
Rosecrance experts and special guests with lived experience will spend the day discussing the military experience, advocating for veterans in need of behavioral healthcare, addressing barriers to access, and exploring ways to overcome them.
Throughout the day, information will be presented on trauma-treatment-specific services, insight into the connection and relationship between co-occurring disorders, and how Rosecrance’s Resilience services have been tailored to meet the needs of veterans.
Additionally, attendees can expect to learn about the difficulties veterans encounter when seeking behavioral health services, programs designed with veterans in mind, what can be done to eliminate barriers to access, and how we can help in that process.
Those attending will be provided a continental breakfast with coffee from Fire Dept. Coffee, lunch from Mission BBQ, and a complimentary copy of “Faith, Family, & Flag: Memoirs of an Unlikely American Samurai Crusader” by Maj. Gen. James Mukoyama.
CEUs are available for this event. This training opportunity is free, but capacity is limited. Advance registration is required.

Veterans Memorial Hall 211 N. Main Street
Rockford IL, 61101
Friday, November 8
8:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.

Rosecrance experts include:
Christopher Druce-Jones – Director of Chaplaincy
Craig Riehle – Director of Admissions
Craig Stallings – Regional Vice President of Operations
Col. Daniel Baggio – Director of Military and Veterans Advocacy Program
Col. David Draeger – Veterans Navigator and Case Manager
Diana Rudeen – Addiction Counselor
Jeb O’Rear – Veterans Housing Case Manager and Community Outreach Recovery Support Team Lead
Leah Scanlan – Regional Director of Behavioral Health Clinics
Special guests include:
Maj. Gen. (Retired) James Mukoyama – Chairman & CEO, Military Outreach USA
Brig. Gen. (Retired) Mark G. Alessia – Director of J-9 Resiliency (Former Director of the Joint Staff), National Guard
Sgt. Garrett Anderson – Outreach Coordinator and Student Recruiter; Chez Veterans Center, University of Illinois
Chaplain/Maj. (Retired) Robert Geaschel – Pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Burr Ridge

Paws for Patriots
2024-11-08 15:00 - 18:00 | Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary, 111 N 1st ST., Rockford, IL, 61107, United States
Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary is Partnering with Whispering Willow Pet Funeral &
Cremation Services to offer $20 Adoptions to Veterans with “Paws for Patriots” Event
US Veterans are invited to visit Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary, located at 111 N. 1st St,
Rockford, IL, on November 8, 2024 from 3pm-6pm for Paws for Patriots where Whispering
Willow Pet Funeral and Cremation will sponsor up to $2000 worth of cat and dog adoptions for
US Veterans.
For this special event, US Veterans from Winnebago County and Boone County
will only need to pay $20 towards the adoption of their new furry friend. All adopters will
still need to meet adoption requirements, which are listed at
https://www.noahsarkanimals.org/adoption-info. Veterans will need to provide proof of their
Veteran status.
If potential adopters would like to expedite the adoption process, we encourage that they
submit an adoption application prior to the event. Adoptions are limited to 1 animal per Veteran.
All animals aboard the Ark are included in the adoption special.
There will be various vendors present including Woodfire Pizza, Dyvine’s Pet Playhouse,
and possibly a few others. If you wish to be a vendor for this event, please contact Brooke
at brooke@noahsarkanimals.org.
“Animals offer a sense of support and healing that everyone deserves and needs. We
are grateful to Whispering Willow for sponsoring these adoptions so our US Veterans can adopt
a companion at a minimal fee,” says Brooke Pond, Shelter Manager.

VFW Post 5149 Monthly Meeting
2024-11-09 10:00 - 11:00 | VFW POST 5149, 922 7th Street, Rockford, IL, 61104, United States

VFW 5149 AUXILIARY Monthly Meeting
2024-11-09 14:00 - 15:00 | VFW POST 5149, 922 7th Street, Rockford, IL, 61104, United States

Veterans Day Breakfast
2024-11-11 08:00 - 09:00 | Hard Rock Casino, 7801 E State St, Rockford, IL, 61107, United States
Calling all local veterans! Join me for a special breakfast to honor your service and sacrifice. Delicious breakfast, heartfelt conversations, and a chance to connect with fellow heroes await on this year’s Veterans Day. Free event. Free breakfast provided.– Register online at: https://www.staterepdavevella.com/veterans-breakfast– Monday, November 11, 2024– 7:00am-9:00am– Hard Rock Casino Rockford (7801 E State St. Rockford, IL.)

Access to Capital for Veteran-Owned Small Businesses – SBA IL –
2024-11-13 08:00 - 10:00 | IL
Presenters Stephen Konkle of SBA and Margaret Griffin of Somercor will provide an overview of all SBA Guarantee, Disaster, and Capital Access Programs, including:
• An explanation of 7(a), 504 CAPline, and Export Loan program structure
• How banks and SBA collaborate to assist startups, expanding businesses, changes in ownership, and more
• SBA’s Resource Network (i.e. SBDC, SCORE, WBC, VBOC) and how they work with banks to assist small business clients
• Where to find SBA Resources online
Reach out to margaret.rayson@sba.gov if you have any questions.
Register Here

VAC Full Commission Meeting
2024-11-13 17:30 - 18:30 | 555 North Court, 555 North Court, Rockford, IL, 61103, United States
