Voices For Veterans

The St. Cloud V.A. is offering some help for veterans wanting to improve their health in the new year. Dietician Anne Voigt and Public Affairs Officer Barry Venable joined me on WJON. Voigt says the V.A. is offering consultations 1 on 1 or in a group setting to aid veterans wanting to eat better and exercise more in 2024.

The St. Cloud V.A. is offering a pair of events they'd like to draw attention to for veterans to participate in this summer/fall. The art competition is a national event in its 41st year.

June is Pride month and the St. Cloud V.A. wants to remind veterans of the services they offer to support all who have served in the military and who are eligible for services.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and the St. Cloud V.A. is offering veterans many services to help them address concerns. St. Cloud V.A. Chaplain Michael Gruber and Public Affairs Specialist Jackie Stevenson joined me on WJON.

Joy Finkelson of the St. Cloud V.A. appeared on WJON's Voices for Veterans program to discuss sexual assault awareness month. She indicated 1 in 3 women and 1 in 50 men serving in the military experiences some sort of sexual trauma.

November is National Family Care Giver Month. The St. Cloud V.A. is recognizing care givers who offer services to veterans. I was joined this week on WJON by Jessica Behrendts from the Care Giver Support program at the St. Cloud V.A. and Public Affairs Officer Barry Venable from the St. Cloud V.A.

The St. Cloud V.A. has a program called "move" which focuses on helping veterans with comprehensive lifestyle changes which includes nutrition, physical activity and behavioral changes.

A simple way to improve a person's health is walking. That according to Medical Director of Whole Health Dr. Sean Omara from the St. Cloud V.A. Dr. Omara says a new study done at the Washington D.C. Veterans Administration Center indicated the health benefits of walking.