The Veterans Assistance Commission of Kane County in partnership with the Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital and the Fox Valley Park District will be hosting a Resource Fair and Town Hall meeting from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 18, at the Prisco Community Center, 150 W. Illinois Ave. in Aurora.

The Resource Fair will include 40 resource vendors in attendance to bring services to local veterans. Eligible veterans will have the opportunity to enroll in VA health care and obtain the veteran designation on their Illinois driver’s license. Veterans will need their DD-214 (military discharge papers) for some services.

“We are excited to be hosting the Veteran Resource Fair in Illinois’ second largest city,” said Jacob Zimmerman, superintendent of the Veterans Assistance Commission of Kane County. “With over 6,000 veterans in Aurora, this is a great opportunity for veterans to connect with agencies that exist to help them.”

Following the Resource Fair, Hines VA will hold a Town Hall meeting from 2:15 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. to inform local veterans about their benefits and the services available at its main campus near Maywood, as well as its clinic located at 161 S. Lincolnway in North Aurora.

“Thanks to our great community partners, we’ve been able to coordinate our Town Hall meeting with the Kane County Veterans Resource Fair, giving veterans a chance to participate at a convenient time and location,” said Steven Braverman, M.D., director at Hines VA Hospital. “This is a great opportunity for veterans to learn about resources available to them, provide feedback, and ask questions of Hines’ leadership.”

About Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital

The Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital is a level 1-A facility offering primary, extended, and specialty care to veterans. Hines VA operates 483 beds and six community based outpatient clinics in Hoffman Estates, Kankakee, Oak Lawn, Aurora, LaSalle and Joliet.

In 2016, Hines VA completed more than 855,000 appointments for nearly 59,000 veterans.

About the Kane County Veterans Assistance Commission

The Veterans Assistance Commission of Kane County exists to maximize benefits for and improve the welfare of the more than 24,000 veterans residing in Kane County. In 2016, the Veterans Assistance Commission was responsible for helping Kane County veterans receive more than $3.27 million in new VA disability benefits.

The Veterans Assistance Commission maintains an office at the Kane County Government Center in Geneva.