Men and women who have served or are currently serving in the military are making a huge difference in the lives of older veterans and veterans with disabilities through SMAA’s Vet to Vet project.
Trained Vet to Vet volunteers visit with veterans in their homes at least twice a month, swapping stories, providing much-needed companionship, and developing a bond strengthened by their shared military service and common interests.
Vet to Vet is the winner of the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging 2016 Aging Achievement Award. Learn more.
Vet to Vet Veterans Receiving Visits
For the veterans who receive visits, the Vet to Vet project has meant veterans have someone to talk to, a friend who can share stories and spend time with them, easing the isolation many have felt as their friends have died or moved away. For some, it may be the first time they have been able to talk about their war experiences. Because they are veterans too, the volunteers already have common ground with the veterans they are visiting. The veteran pairs may go out for coffee or lunch, participate in activities and interests they both share, or simply sit and talk.
Vet to Vet volunteers link veterans to services and programs of the Southern Maine Agency on Aging and other social service organizations, Maine Veterans Services, and the VA when needed.
Qualifying for a Vet to Vet Visitor
Applicants must have served in the military. This includes reserves, merchant marine, and all other branches of the service, combatant and noncombatant.
Applicants must be an aging veteran or a veteran of any age with disabilities who lives at home in York and Cumberland counties, male or female.
Vet to Vet Volunteers
The Vet to Vet program provides a meaningful volunteer opportunity for veterans wanting to have a more fulfilling life and looking for ways to help other veterans. For the veteran volunteers in the program, the experience has been life-changing. Most have said they are getting as much out of the program as the veterans they visit.
Becoming a Vet to Vet Volunteer
• Volunteers must have served in the military. This includes reserves,
Merchant Marine, and all other branches of the service, combatant
and noncombatant.
• Volunteers commit to visit a veteran in his or her home at least twice a
month for a year.
• Volunteers receive training in communications skills, social services
available for veterans, and other pertinent information.
Volunteer Experience
As a Vet to Vet Volunteer your opportunity will be just as unique as you and your fellow veteran are. Here are just a few examples of experiences from our Vet to Vet Volunteers.
Tommy Ewing and Karl Smith100th Birthday
Tommy Ewing and Karl Smith, his Vet to Vet volunteer, celebrate Tommy's 100th birthday with a 5lb. lobster at the Maine Veteran's Homes in Scarborough. Friends, relatives, and dignitaries including Senator Angus King and Governor Paul LePage came to the celebration held in July 2016.
Vet's Wish Granted
Franklin Stover finally got his wish to see his wife's grave thanks to his Vet to Vet buddy, Jeff Reinhold. Grace Stover passed away in June 2016 and was buried at the Southern Maine Veterans Cemetery in Springvale.
Franklin Stover visiting the grave of his wife, Grace.Since the death of his wife, Franklin was living alone in his Portland apartment. He has health concerns that require him to cart a large quantity of medical devices with him whenever he travels - making the trip to Springvale on his own nearly impossible. His Vet to Vet buddy, Jeff, learned what equipment Franklin needed, how to operate it, and together the two of them were able to make the trip to Grace's grave.
For Franklin, the pilgrimage was a precious gift from a man who has become a close friend. For his part, Jeff said, "I feel blessed that I am able to visit with and help my friend Franklin."
100 Visits
Eric Mihan and Vernon Huestis logged their 100th visit together on November 30, 2016. The two veterans met for the first time in June 2014 when Eric signed on as a volunteer in SMAA's new Vet to Vet program. As part of the first time of new volunteers, Eric had little inkling how the visits would go.
Eric Mihan and Vernon HuestisOnce total strangers, the two have developed a strong bond over their service ties - both had served in the same division in the U.S. Army - and their love of reading. For their 100th visit, Vernon and Eric celebrated with coffee and muffins and a discussion of David McCullough's Book 1776.
Eric and Vernon are also "stars" in a video about the Vet to Vet program called "Vet to Vet Voices".
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