08/03/2026
"I didn't expect today to feel like Christmas, but it did! I waited 22 years for this day and I am so happy."
It's been just over a week since our We CARE Vet Fair™: Columbus event and we are still reflecting on all that we saw and heard. Veterans from all walks of life came together to build new connections and find support. We like to think they succeeded.
On July 23 and 24, the 2nd We CARE Vet Fair™: Columbus took over the Columbus Civic Center and filled it from top to bottom (and into the parking lots) for one purpose: getting Veterans, Service Members, National Guard, Reservists, Military Families, Caregivers, and Survivors connected to the resources they've earned. Over 120 organizations from across the nation set up shop under one roof to ensure that answers flowed as freely as attendees' questions.
By the time we tallied everything up, the engagement numbers blew us away. Here are a few that we are exceptionally excited about:
- Physical Wellness partners had over 2,060 conversations with attendees about everything from immunizations to dental and vision screenings.
- Housing is a pressing issue for our Veterans and families. 1,202 conversations were had about this topic alone during the event!
- Employment is another major challenge facing the Veteran community, and 1,607 conversations discussed hiring, employment support, and more.
- Mental Health and Substance Misuse are hot topics, but our partners didn't shy away from having 2,100 tough conversations about mental health, substance misuse, support options for family members, and where to go for help.
With all these conversations going on, you can imagine how busy it was on the floor! We kicked off with an emotional Quilt of Valor presentation. There were accredited Service Officers filing disability claims and walking Veterans through claims and appeals; free legal consultations; on-site enrollment in VA Health Care. Employment connections spanning local, state, federal, and corporate opportunities were discussed (and offered!) while GI Bill and education guidance for those still transitioning was provided. We had a pop-up visit from Scorch the River Dragon, remote-controlled vehicles running (courtesy of Operation 11 Charlie 501c3 ) and on-site gaming with Regiment Add in free haircuts, medical checks, and a canteen that never seemed to run out of cold water for attendees and partners alike, and you get a sense of the day.
One of our volunteers pulled us aside near closing and said she'd never worked an event like it, and she's already asking when she can sign up again. That's the kind of reaction that keeps this mission going, and it doesn't happen without every single person who gave up their Thursday and Friday to serve.
Our thanks to our sponsors who made this possible, and to the more than 120 organizations that showed up for Columbus and Fort Benning.
With deep appreciation, we want to recognize:
Avalon Action Alliance
Boulder Crest Foundation
Buffalo Rock Company
The Home Depot
Sysco Atlanta Foodie
Warrior Outreach
Most of all, to the 2,641 Veterans and family members who came through the doors of the Civic Center: thank you for trusting us with your questions. We built this day so you wouldn't have to navigate the tough questions alone. We hope you left with new connections, a plan, and maybe a haircut too.
United Military Care isn't done yet. This fall, we bring it home to Cobb County Civic Center for our final event of the year. More to come this week!
