RESOURCES
ASSISTANCE
County Veteran Centers
OC Vet Center – North
OC Vet Center – South
VA Health Hospitals & Clinics
Find A VA Location – By Zip Code
Community Resource and Referral Centers (CRRCs) – CRRCs provide Veterans who are homeless and at risk of homelessness with one-stop access to community-based, multiagency services to promote permanent housing, health and mental health care, career development and access to VA and non-VA benefits
Non-Profit Organizations
Battle Buddy Bridge – Volunteers of America
Family Assistance Ministries – Family Assistance Ministries assists those in need in Orange County with resources for food, shelter, and personalized supportive counsel and aid, helping clients bridge the gap from dependency to self-sufficiency.
South County Outreach – Computer Learning Lab that instructs almost 500 students annually and helps those who are unemployed and under-employed improve their computer skills to increase job opportunities.
Veterans Legal Institute – Legal services for low-income veterans
Working Wardrobes – provide veterans from every branch of the military with the tools and skills they need to find meaningful employment after service. Many other services are available.
Food Resources
CA Emergency Food Programs – Soup Kitchens, Food Pantries, and Food Banks (Food Banks are distribution points ONLY)
Crossline Food Pantry – 23331 Moulton Parkway, Laguna Hills, CA 92653 – outreach to the South Orange County public to provide free food to those in need
Laguna Food Pantry – 20652 Laguna Canyon Rd, Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Need Help Paying the Bills – Listing of free food banks and pantries in OC
OC Food Bank – 11870 Monarch St, Garden Grove, CA 92841 – Available Programs are: Senior Food Bank, CalFresh Food Stamp Outreach, Mobile Food Trolley, Farm to Family, Donated Food Program, Agency Food Partners and The Giving Farm
St Timothy Food Pantry – 29102 Crown Valley Pkwy, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677 (949) 249-4092vvvv
Rancho Santa Margarita – Listing of Food Resources in the local areas with dates, times, and locations.
Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County, Inc. – 8014 Marine Way, Irvine, CA 92618
South County Outreach – For more information about food pantry services, please call (949) 380-8144, ext. 207.
Housing
South County Housing – This program is dedicated to assisting families with dependent children who have found themselves without safe housing options and need some help and guidance to get back on their feet.
Family Promise of Orange County – Their mission is to help families experiencing homelessness achieve housing stability. We HELP, we give HOPE, we bring families HOME!
Homeless Shelter Directory – Cities in California – Many are emergency shelters along with general homeless shelters and some transitional housing opportunities. As a note, many of these shelters now have waiting lists. Please call before going to them. Many waiting lists are very long.
Dental Services for low income
Free Dental Care – Cities in California – Services Listed: Free Dental Clinics, Sliding Fee Scale Dental Clinics, Low Cost Affordable Dental Clinics, and Non Profit Dental Clinics – Many of the resources for dental care are free, but many are based on income and/or discounted in other manners. Please review the listings and contact the dental clinics through the websites provided (and/or phone numbers listed), to obtain full details prior to obtaining services.
BENEFITS
Our VFW Service Officers are available to veterans and their families, to provide support and guidance. If you need help for filling out a form, or need additional information on a program, your local VFW Post is the place to go.
To find a VFW near you, click on POSTS. If you are outside of District 2, use FIND A POST
Forms for Program Applications
VA Form 21-527EZ for Veterans – Non-service connected
VA Form 21-534EZ for their Spouses – dependency and indemnity compensation, death pension, and/or accrued benefits
National VFW Links
Links to Outside Agencies
For your convenience, the off-site page will open in a new tab.
VA Email Updates – sign up
Quick Links
Frequently Asked Questions: Answers to common questions veterans may have
NEW! Brainfuse VetNow/JobNow – learn new skills, prepare for certification testing, create more impactful resumés, prepare for and practice interviewing, and search for jobs.
CHAPLAIN’S CORNER
Post Chaplin: Bernard Robertson
National Chaplain Database – Post /District Chaplains report their activities here.
TAPS – Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors
TIP – Trama Intervention Program
Chaplain Awards
District 2 Chaplain of the Year Award
Department Chaplain of the Year Award
Post Memorial
Name Membership type
Campos, Benjamin Life
Citizen, Theodor Life
Costner, Charles Life
Etter, Floyd Life
Geldbach, Earl Life
Hensch, Elvan Life
Kelly, William Life
Kott, William Life
Lester, Edward Life
Lowe, Harry Life
Miranda, Michael Life
O`Keefe, Gerald Life
Park, William Life
Schmidt, Gerald Life
Tambunga, Erasmo Life
Wilson, Darrel Life
DOCUMENTS
DOCUMENTS 2020-2021
General Orders 2022-2023 Department of California
VFW National 2022-2023
Flag Protocol
The American flag has a long history, and the members of our organization have spent nearly as long defending and honoring our nation’s most iconic symbol of freedom. Whether you’re looking for the historic details of how the U.S. flag came to be, or the rules and regulations that encompass her daily flight, we’re here to ensure you can find the information you need.
The order of precedence when displaying military flags together is Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard.
Flag Disposal
Protocol for Flying the POW/MIA Flag
MILITARY HONORS
Veterans – Before you die, create an easy to find file in a sealed envelope, named In the Event of My Death
How to Report a Veteran’s Death – Information on how to report a vetran’s death is provided by clicking on the following link: Reporting a Veteran’s Death
Burial Flag Request – Even though you apply for Military Honors, the flag is only provided upon request. You may apply for the flag by completing VA Form 27-2008 Application for United States Flag for Burial Purposes. Or you may get a flag at any U.S. Post Office or VA regional office with death certificate and service (DD-214). Generally, the funeral director will help you obtain the flag.
Requesting Military Honors
Upon the family’s request, Public Law 106-65 requires that every eligible Veteran receive a military funeral honors ceremony, to include folding and presenting the United States burial flag and the playing of Taps. The law defines a military funeral honors detail as consisting of two or more uniformed military persons, with at least one being a member of the Veteran’s parent service of the armed forces. The DOD program calls for funeral home directors to request military funeral honors on behalf of the Veterans’ family. However, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) National Cemetery Administration cemetery staff can also assist with arranging military funeral honors at VA national cemeteries. Veterans organizations may assist in providing military funeral honors. When military funeral honors at a national cemetery are desired, they are arranged prior to the committal service by the funeral home.
VFW Military Honors – Contact our District 2 Color Guard Captain
Throughout California – Military Honors per Military Service
Ceremonial Music –
VFW National Home for Children – California House
The National Home’s traditional residential on-campus programs are designed to give veteran’s families an opportunity for a better life. Eligibility for these programs is based on the children having a living (or deceased) parent, grandparent or great-grandparent who is (or was) a VFW or Ladies Auxiliary member in good standing. Deployed military members’ children or their spouses with children, and veterans with a service-connected disability with their families may also be eligible
Each of the 42 houses at the National Home are sponsored by Departments and their Auxiliaries. Donations made by CA District 2 Posts will directly support our California houses if an annotation is made on your check.
California II House
sponsored by the VFW Dept of CA and its auxiliariesBuilt in 1950 2,456 square feet 4 bedroom 3 bath
California/Nevada House
sponsored by the VFW Dept of CA & NV and their auxiliariesBuilt in 1931 2,874 square feet 4 bedroom 2 bath
For more information or to donate directly, click on VFW National Home. Or you can add a fundraiser to your personal Facebook page by clicking RAISE MONEY when creating a post.
STUDENT VETERANS
Local Colleges with Veteran Resource Centers:
Chapman University – Veterans Resource Center
Saddleback College Veterans Resource Center
Huntington Beach Public Library Veteran Resource Center
Long Beach Public Library – On-line Veteran Resource Center
Ontario Public Library – On-line Veteran Resource Center
Listing of OC Colleges – Quick Links
Other available support:
City of Mission Viejo – On-line Military and Veteran Resource Center
Student Veterans of America – Scholarships
District 2 Training Tools
SOI Training – Every year, the District is required to provide training to the incoming Cmdrs, QMs, and Trustees – If you did not attend training, please review the applicable SLIDESHOW PRESENTATIONS listed below.
SOI – 5 Dec 2020
VFW National Training Resources
VFW Department Training Resources