WUFT News News and Public Media for North Central Florida from the University of Florida in Gainesville
The Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs announced today a new outreach campaign, along with a new brand logo, mission and vision statement.
The campaign is designed to better locate the veteran population in Florida and to inform those veterans of the federal and state services and benefits available to them as a result of their military service.
Department spokesman Steve Murray said there are millions of federal dollars left unused by veterans.
“It’s in everyone’s best interest to get them informed about the benefits and get them signed up,” he said.
Murray said the department is turning to nontraditional methods, such as mobile apps and Facebook, to reach out to veterans of all ages. The campaign focuses on returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan, women veterans and Vietnam veterans.
United States Army veteran Maureen Busby said it’s great that the veterans are going to get the help they need.
“Some people just don’t know it’s there,”Busby said. “If I had known about it a long time ago, I had been going there quicker.”
Emily Miller edited this story online.
