Buckeye Hills Career Center SkillsUSA members recently hosted an event benefitting area veterans as a community service project. The event Operation Heroes: Veteran Assistance and Claims Clinic was held on Thursday, February 6, 2025, and served over 25 veterans and their families.

“Veterans have made huge sacrifices to serve and protect our country, but when they return home, many struggle to get the help they need. Whether it’s accessing healthcare, disability benefits, or other forms of support, the process can be confusing and overwhelming. Operation Heroes: Veteran Assistance and Claims Clinic is a project dedicated to helping veterans navigate these challenges so they can receive the benefits they deserve,” the BHCC SkillsUSA team shared.

The students researched how veterans, especially those from underserved communities, were being left behind in the claims process. The students then suggested the idea of a hosting a claims clinic—a central location where veterans could get the resources and guidance needed to open and manage their claims with greater ease.

The Huntington VA (Veterans Affairs) Outreach team helped coordinate the event by scheduling representatives from the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars), DAV (Disabled American Veterans), and Gallia, Jackson, and Meigs county Veterans Services Offices to be available at the event to assist attendees. Buckeye Hills students from Automotive Service Technology, Health Academy, and Culinary Preparation programs also helped by providing services at the event including checking tire pressures, taking blood pressure readings, and preparing breakfast and desserts to be served at the event. A free lunch was provided to attendees as well.

“It’s important to stand up for those who stood up for us,” the BHCC SkillsUSA American Spirit team shared.

For more information about Veterans Affairs and resources available, please visit VA.gov.