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DAV provides urgent aid in unprecedented times

Dawnelle Boles, a disabled veteran and single mother, suddenly lost her income during the COVID-19 pandemic. Fortunately, DAV’s COVID-19 Unemployment Relief Fund provided a critical grant to support her and her family during this unprecedented time.

“This will feed both of us and get the basic necessities that people take for granted, such as toothpaste and laundry soap,” said Boles. “This program gave me a little hope right now and I cannot thank you enough!”

Boles’ story may have ended there, but it was just the beginning of the assistance DAV provided. Now aware of DAV’s broad blanket of care for disabled veterans, the Navy veteran reached out to a DAV benefits advocate for help with her claims.

“He took his own personal time, working all weekend, hours and hours, going through my military records and claims,” said Boles. “He found issues, fixed them, filed, and called to make sure I was receiving everything I was due. He researched and provided me more outlets for more help during this time, financially.”  

In addition to the assistance with Boles’ claim, the DAV benefits advocate reached out to the DAV Department of Indiana which graciously honored a request for additional relief for Boles, providing her with a gift card for groceries and gas. The DAV chapter in Lafayette, Indiana, the Mary T. Klinker Chapter 27, then chipped in, providing her with an additional gift card for groceries and essential items. “I cannot believe all that he has changed for the better for me and my family, in just days,” she said.

In her time of urgent need, the DAV ‘family’ was there for Boles with immediacy, expertise and genuine care.


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