A new initiative in Fairfield is opening its doors to local veterans seeking community and a chance to connect with fellow veterans.
The Veterans Coffee House will hold monthly gatherings at the Penfield Pavilion on the third Tuesday each month from 9 a.m. to noon, with the first three events scheduled for Nov. 18, Dec. 16, and Jan. 20.
The monthly event will be hosted by Mary Harris, the Veterans Service Officer for the state of Connecticut who assists veterans and their families with claims and benefits like compensation, pensions and education with the VA.
“I’ve had this idea since I was hired,” Harris said. “I looked around and saw that there was nowhere for veterans to meet together monthly.”
The Fairfield branch of the Veterans of Foreign Wars , a nonprofit that provides support services to veterans, service members and their families, will co-sponsor the Coffee House.
Julie DeMarco, a liaison with Fairfield’s Veterans Affairs Department, said the coffee house is modeled after similar coffee houses around the country.
“It’s a great opportunity to bring our veterans together,” DeMarco said.
One study found that nearly 40% of older U.S. veterans experience moderate to high levels of loneliness. Initiatives that seek to promote social connectedness can help mitigate the health risks associated with chronic loneliness.
“I do get a lot of veterans who suffer from mental illness. I’m able to relate to them and get them the help that they need,” Harris said. “But sometimes it’s nice to just talk to one another.”
The Veterans Coffee House will provide coffee, refreshments and a sense of community to all veterans, regardless of branch, era or discharge status.
