Easterseals NH Military & Veterans Services has received a $15,000 grant from the TD Charitable Foundation, the charitable giving arm of TD Bank America’s Most Convenient Bank® to help provide a safety net of critical case management and emergency assistance to meet the unexpected crises of veterans, service members and their families. Read More

17 teams gather in mid-June at Abenaqui Country Club for the The Guyton Group Golf Tournament raising more than $14,500 for Veterans Count! We look forward to next year’s tournament on June 10! View photos here.

The Telegraph — U.S. Reps. Annie Kuster and Carol Shea-Porter, both D-N.H., on Friday announced a $206,000 Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program grant for Easterseals New Hampshire.

The grant comes from the U.S. Department of Labor and will help local agencies or nonprofits, such as Easterseals, provide occupational skills, apprenticeship opportunities, on-the-job training and job search placement assistance.

This endeavor is the only federal program specifically focused on providing employment services to homeless veterans.

“No veteran should live without secure housing, and empowering veterans to access stable employment is critical to addressing veteran homelessness,” Kuster said. “Easterseals does incredible work to help veterans who are struggling, and this grant will further support their efforts. Our men and women who have served in uniform sacrificed so much for us, and it’s critical that we provide comprehensive support for them as they reintegrate into civilian life, including skills training and apprenticeship programs. As a member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, I’ll continue to fight to enhance and expand services for our men and women who have served in uniform.” Read More

Bellavance Beverage Co., donated a percentage of  each case of Budweiser sold in the month of June, and presented a check for $5,005 to Veterans Count on July 2, at a Nashua Silver Knights baseball game.

Portsmouth Herald — With the firing of the gun to kick off the sixth annual Pack and Boots 5K Road Race on July 4 in Portsmouth, some in attendance will reflect on much more than who will “win.”

“Honestly, many of our veterans have not received the recognition and care they deserve,” said David Hampson, who chairs the volunteer committee that plans the event. “At various times in our nation’s history, veterans have returned home to not only be shunned, but denied access to needed medical services and that isn’t right.”

Rick Courtemanche, who served in Vietnam and sits on the race committee, agrees with Hampson and shared his own experience when he returned home.

“There were no parades, no one to greet us at the airport, and a lot of people who just were tired of seeing the war in their living rooms each night,” he said.

Noting they were in combat one day and on a plane home the next, he said they returned to the States with protests and protesters at airports.

“One day, you were proud to be in uniform,” he said. “The next, you couldn’t wait to take it off.” Read More