Carnival veterans outreach planned

An organization known for bringing soldiers to Whitefish to experience a Montana winter is turning its focus toward local veterans and their families during the Whitefish Winter Carnival.

The Whitefish Veterans Support Team is hosting a veterans outreach during the carnival on Saturday, Feb. 7.

Formally known as the Wounded Warrior Project in Whitefish, the group has spent the last five years hosting veterans and their families as they spend several days in the Flathead Valley.

Falling in line with this year’s carnival theme of “America the Beautiful” to honor U.S. veterans, organizers for the Whitefish Veterans Support Team wanted to do something more this year.

“We felt like we wanted to do a more local community outreach,” Chris Washer said.

The veterans outreach event will be from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the lobby of Whitefish Middle School. Representatives from Montana Veterans Affairs, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Montana Veterans Home, Flathead Valley Community College Veterans Association, military recruiters, Flathead Job Corps and other groups will be there.

“We want veterans, spouses and families to come and find out about benefits,” Washer said. “We want this to be a one-stop shop for them to get help.”

Information will be available on all aspects of benefits, including education, federal support, family support and individual well-being services.

“If we can help one person, or one family, get benefits they didn’t know about, we will consider it a success,” Washer said.

The group will still host five veterans and their caregivers during the week for activities that include skiing and snowboarding and an appearance in the parade.