Credit: James O’Malley/County of Bucks
Bucks County government has resources available to help local veterans, officials want the public to know.
Bucks County Director of Veterans Affairs Timothy Wynn, a U.S. Marine Corps. veteran himself, recently reminded fellow veterans that he wants to make sure they are supported and his office can answer their questions.
Advertisements
Wynn stated veterans who want more information on the Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act of 2022 that expands U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits and services to those impacted by burn pits and toxic substances can contact his office.
“This law helps us provide generations of veterans and survivors with benefits,” he said.
Wynn noted the deluge of TV and social media ads about the PACT Act and urged veterans to contact his office to get the facts and more information.
Advertisements
“We have a ton of information,” he said.
“Don’t believe everything you see on TV. Reach out to us. We have the real information,” he added. “Talk to a real representative from our office.”
Advertisements
Wynn also promoted the county’s VA01 van service that transports veterans to VA clinics and hospitals in Chester, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties.
“We are here to get you to your appointments,” he said.
During his recent update on his office’s work, Wynn shared a story of a Lower Bucks County Vietnam War-era veteran who needed help.
Advertisements
He said a Lower Bucks County township’s code enforcement officials reached out to the Bucks County Human Services Department’s co-responder program with a report of a veteran who had overgrown trees and plants outside his home.
County and township officials looked into the situation and found the veteran was living inside his home without running water, the tiolet didn’t work, and he had a fixed income and couldn’t get the problems fixed.
Advertisements
The co-responders worked with the county’s veterans affairs staff to look at helping the veteran.
Wynn said the plumbers’ union sent two retired master plumbers to fix the collapsed pipes and get water running to the sinks and bathroom.
Advertisements
Veterans visited the man’s house to get the yard cleaned up and neighbors began checking on him. One nearby resident even gave the man a much-needed haircut, Wynn explained.
“His quality of life has improved dramatically,” the veterans affairs director said.
Advertisements
Wynn said veterans have sacrificed so much and some are struggling and need help. He urged residents to help with the mission of checking on neighbors.
“There’s a whole lot of good people in this community, in this county, in this country. It’s good to be reminded of that,” Bucks County Commissioners Chairperson Bob Harvie said after hearing Wynn’s story.
Bucks County Veterans Affairs Department can be reached at 215-345-3307, tjwynn@buckscounty.org, or by visiting the Bucks County Administration Building at 55 East Court Street in Doylestown Borough.
Advertisements
Report a correction via email | Editorial standards and policies
