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Despite having financial setbacks due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Piedmont Area Veterans Council (PAVC) has continued to assist active duty service members, veterans and their dependents/caregivers who are entitled to a variety of benefits.

“We have not been impacted by COVID other than our ability to do fundraising,” CEO and Founder of PAVC Sarah Dunn said. “Our funding sources were dramatically changed due to COVID. As a result of this we will be making changes in our services and the manner in which our services are implemented in the very near future.”

The PAVC serves those who live in Amelia, Buckingham, Charlotte, Cumberland, Lunenburg, Nottoway and Prince Edward counties by connecting veterans to services and resources they may need either at our site or to local, state and federal resources.

According to Dunn, the PAVC will not be able to recover from financial impact without continued donations and support and without having to consider implementing significant changes in July.   

“Our board of directors is meeting and discussing our best way forward at this time,” Dunn said.   

In late 2019 the PAVC announced that the organization had been gifted a building from Syd Newman and his family that currently houses Paladin Medical Transport with the plans of relocating their offices.

According to Dunn, PAVC is hoping to begin to focus on the renovations that need to be made within the building this fall when Paladin Medical Transport is expected to relocate its business. “Many factors will determine our ability to move forward with our new building and the adjacent building that is located on the site,” Dunn said, “COVID has severely impacted the ability for most non-profits to fundraise in a traditional sense which is the same scenario with PAVC  and we are hoping  we are able to secure funding to make the necessary modifications to the building so it will become the Veteran Resource Center for the Piedmont Area.”

Even with financial struggles, PAVC has been able to keep its office open with the help of other veteran volunteers during the pandemic while still meeting the needs of our veterans and their family members/caregivers.

“Veterans now scan, fax, email, mail, etc. everything to our office, and we continue working, as usual, so no real change in our service delivery or ability to serve our clients.” Dunn said, “Our accredited Veteran Service Officers can contact the Veteran Affairs Regional Office and the Board of Veteran Appeals even during this period of COVID allowing them to continue advocating on behalf of the veteran his family.  Calls for assistance from any new clients have been processed in the same amount of time as if we were open to the public for walk-in while still protecting effective dates for benefits.”

To help the PAVC  organizations and individuals can consider making a monetary donation, purchasing supplies, holding a virtual fundraising event, or making a contribution in honor of a veteran or family.

The PAVC may be reached at (434) 392-4142 or email pavc23901@aol.com.