Brewer Receives Legacy Award from MVOC

Recognized as leader in preserving services for Vets

(Boston) – On August 29, 2012, the Montachusett Veterans Outreach Center (MVOC), that will celebrate its 30^th anniversary of providing critical assistance to Veterans and their families in January, held its Inaugural Awards Gala.  The event was held to recognize individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to support the center’s mission.  One of the most esteemed awards of the night, the Legacy Award, was given to Senator Stephen M. Brewer (D-Barre) for his continuous efforts to raise community awareness of MVOC and support of their work for Veterans in the community.

“We choose Senator Brewer as the recipient of this award for everything he does for the center and for our Veterans,” said Charles L. Bollinger III, Executive Director of the Montachusett Veterans Outreach Center.  “He is always there for us and always offers support.”

Brewer, who chairs the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, has made it his priority to serve Veterans, their needs, and the needs of their loved ones, throughout his career in the Massachusetts Legislature.  Serving as the first ever Chair of the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs, Brewer was instrumental in passing one of the most comprehensive state benefits legislation for Veterans, which became known as the Massachusetts Welcome Home Bill.  Now, as the head of the Senate’s budget writing committee, his commitment to ensuring the state continues to do all it can for our brave service men and women has not faltered.

“The men and women who serve in all branches of our military have made enormous sacrifices for our country and to preserve our freedom,” said Brewer.  “They take care of us through their service and we owe it to them to take care of them when they get home.  The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have resulted in an influx of Veterans, many needing help transitioning back into civilian life.  In Central Massachusetts, we are lucky to have the services of the Montachusett Veterans Outreach Center.  Outreach is so important and the services provided here make life just a little easier for our military personnel.”

Montachusett Veterans Outreach Center provides support to military veterans and their families in need of services to develop a resilient, self-sufficient lifestyle. MVOC offers low-income housing alternatives, counseling, case management, job training, personal development, veterans' benefits resource assistance, medical transportation and food assistance. MVOC is home to twelve transitional veteran, single room occupancy units and seven low-income housing units, a food pantry, a drop-in center, and administrative offices.

With Brewer at the helm, the state budgets for Fiscal Years 2012 and 2013 included funding for many Veterans initiatives, including $40,000 allocated for MVOC to open a satellite campus in the Town of Winchendon.  Additionally, funding for Veterans Outreach Centers was increased by $255,000 in FY13 and the Women Veterans Outreach Program was increased by $25,000.

In May of this year, the Valor Act was signed into law in Massachusetts.  The bill creates increased supports for veteran-owned businesses, Gold Star Families, military children, and higher education access in the Commonwealth. The bill works on many fronts to help veterans and active military members improve business, educational and housing opportunities. The legislation also removes certain educational obstacles by requiring the state’s public institutions of higher learning to adopt new policies and procedures for awarding proper academic credit for a student’s prior military training, coursework and experience.

Today, nearly 400,000 veterans currently live in Massachusetts.

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Posted: Thu, Aug 30, 2012
Updated Thu, Aug 30, 2012