VFW POST 1513 & Auxiliary
230 E. Park Ave. Escondido, CA
COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Updates
Serving our community during times of crisis
Resources Updated 3/20/2020
Are your work hours cut or gone due the outbreak? Have you lost your job? Are you taking time off due to potential exposure?
File a claim at https://www.edd.ca.gov/about_edd/coronavirus-2019.htm
Make sure to follow reliable news sources:
City of Escondido: https://www.escondido.org/covid-19.aspx
County of San Diego: https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/coronavirus/
Center for Disease Control: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
Things to do Updated 3/20/2020
Submit and Intent to File: What is the intent to file process? This process allows you more time to collect information to support your VA benefits claim. It also protects the earliest possible effective date for any benefits resulting from your claim. The date VA receives your intent to file will be protected as your effective date.
The easiest way to do this is to call:
800-827-1000 Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. ET.
You can also mail in your intent to file. Check out the link below:
https://www.va.gov/disability/how-to-file-claim/?from=explore.va.gov
Fill out the Census: Make sure you count in this years census! You can mail in the form you were sent, submit online or call.
Census Online: https://2020census.gov/en/ways-to-respond/responding-online.html
Census via Phone: 844-330-2020
Updated 3/18/2020
From Commander Matt Foster:
Comrades and family!
You are no doubt aware of our current crisis with Covid-19 and are aware of the measurements taken by our local and national government agencies. Our Post building is closed for the foreseeable future. Like all crises, this will pass.
This doesn't mean that we as a Post are closed. Far from it. Our Post is not a building, but YOU, veterans and your families, who have chosen to serve our our community. It is times like these when we have the opportunity to shine. When hard times arrive, there are those who panic and those who help.
As Fred Rogers said,
“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me,
"Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”"
Comrades, we are the helpers. We helped when we served our country in war, and now we are called again to help our country. How can we help? It doesn't take much, just a bit of caring for our neighbors. We can help in dozens of ways: calling to check in on your neighbors or someone you know is hurting and could use your help. Run errands for those who cannot. Share necessities. Connect those in need with the services that provide them. I have faith in your imagination and creativity. If nothing else, share a smile with someone who needs it.
If YOU need help, I encourage you to do the hardest thing veterans can do: Ask us for help! Call me or Chaplain Gary Nordby.
Quick Reaction Force: If you would like to step up and be part of an adhoc Post Quick Reaction Force to help our community, please contact me at 760 208-7246 or Chaplain Gary Nordby at 760 277-5113. I will put you on our list to do whatever (within reason) pops up. You don't have to have any special skills, but if you do, please let me know. If you think the Post can help someone, please let Gary or me know. I can promise you that we'll do the best we can to help our veterans and community the best we can.
If you can donate money to help someone in need, please contact our Quartermaster, Andy Aguilar at 619 764-3582.
There are many who have been furloughed or laid off and soon, they will be desperate. Please help any way you can.
RESOURCES:Free Lunches at the Park Ave Senior Center for those 50 yrs and older: they can deliver food to you via Meal on Wheels or you can drive up to the center (next to the Post) to pick one up.
From their website: Senior Nutrition has transitioned to delivery and pick-up of meals only. For CURRENT senior nutrition program participants 60 and over, meals will be available for pick-up at the Park Avenue Community Center. To RSVP for meal delivery call: 760-839-4803.
Food: To find food grown and manufactured in your neighborhood, text “food” to 877-877 to find the nearest site, or call 211 to talk to a resource specialist about summer meal sites or other local food resources.
Thank you for reading this and especially for serving our country and community.