Richard English Waypoint Veterans Service Center set to open in LaGrange
LAGRANGE, Ga. (WRBL) — A new veterans transitional service center is coming to LaGrange Saturday – offering veterans a one-stop shop for resources designed to provide them an integrated continuum of care.
A local non-profit dedicated to veteran services is expanding its mission to leave no veteran behind.
We volunteer. These are our people. These are the folks who would would stand in front of a bullet for me. Why wouldn’t I do this?
Sandra Brownlee, CEO of Discovering Soldiers Potential II
Discovering Soldiers Potential II, or DSP II, is gearing up for the grand opening of its second Veterans Transitional Service Center.
CEO of DSP II, Sandra Brownlee, says The Richard English Waypoint Veterans Service Center aims to tackle many obstacles that veterans may face.
Between vet claims management, veteran services, housing, employment, health care, I mean, we could go on all day. But the list of these counseling services, legal services, mental health care. So any thing that that veteran needs assistance with, if [they ]come here, we will find the assistance for [them].
Sandra Brownlee, CEO of Discovering Soldiers Potential II
Brownlee describes the service center as a dream come true. Brownlee is a retired Master Sergeant from the U.S. Army who started DSP II eight years ago. She says this center aims to bridge the gap between veterans who need help, but may not know how to get connected to resources like Veterans Affairs (VA).
The disparity is where they’re [VA] located does not allow the majority of the veterans who live in their state to get to them, i.e. in rural community areas. And so if you have a if you have 4 million veterans in your community and you only service about half of them in the year, what are the other half go?
Sandra Brownlee, CEO of Discovering Soldiers Potential II
The center will offer services such as temporary housing for up to 14 months, financial planning and job assistance. Brownlee says they expect to begin offering temporary housing later this year. Sitting on eight acres, DSP II plans to build family-friendly housing, a garden and playground by next year.
The center was made possible through funding from The Callaway Foundation, totaling at $250,000. For those interested in donating to the cause, visit DSP II’s website here.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL.
