More than 2,600 Veterans and their families in Columbus, Georgia, received benefits, services and real answers from VA, the Georgia Department of Veterans Service, and local and national Veteran-serving organizations during the July 23–24, 2026, event.

Hosted by United Military Care in partnership with the Georgia Veterans Network, Avalon Action Alliance, Boulder Crest Foundation, Buffalo Rock Company, The Home Depot, Sysco Atlanta and Warrior Outreach, the We CARE Vet Fair transformed the Columbus Civic Center into a one-stop hub for support. Veterans, service members, military families, caregivers and survivors could access resources in one place—with no fees, no sales pitches and no barriers.

The event’s impact was clear: 99.4% of participating Veterans who completed the customer experience survey said they would recommend this VA outreach event to other Veterans.

The day before, more than 100 Veteran-serving organizations ‘warmed up’ the civic center as part of VA’s VetResources Community Network (VRCN) annual convening. This year, VA and the community focused on VA Secretary Collins’ priorities of healthcare enrollment, the prevention of suicide and homelessness, and military transition.

All VA and participating VRCN partner services were represented at the fair. Ninety-seven Veterans enrolled in VA healthcare onsite. A 91-year-old Korean War Veteran filed his first VA disability claim after avoiding VA for more than four decades. Encouraged by his wife, he attended day one of the event and his claim was assigned an effective date on site. He was deeply grateful for the staff’s knowledge, compassion and support, saying he had faith in VA again.

Leading with heart and purpose

The impact of the fair was deeply shaped by Kimberly Scofi, president and founder of United Military Care. Her mission—“standing Veterans up”—is rooted in compassion and lived experience. Inspired by her father-in-law, a Vietnam Veteran who struggled to access support late in life, she has dedicated her work to closing the gaps that too many Veterans fall through. Scofi says she sees his face in every Veteran she serves.

Since founding the organization in 2012, she has remained focused on a clear goal: ensuring no Veteran goes hungry, homeless or forgotten. Today, her organization supports more than 25,000 Veterans and families across Georgia through emergency response, basic needs services and community outreach.

United Military Care hosts We Care Vet Fairs across Georgia; find the next one on its website.

A future built on partnership

Events like these happen when VA and Veteran-serving organizations team up to reach Veterans where they live. Organizations like the Blinded Veterans Association, which presented 40 Veterans with Meta glasses and hands-on training to help them use accessible technology to stay connected, navigate their surroundings and engage more fully in daily life. This adaptive technology offered during the We CARE Vet Fair showed how trusted partners can turn innovative tools into tangible independence and confidence for Veterans with visual impairments.

Regiment was also on-site, offering one-on-one gaming with Veterans and members of the military community. As America’s largest military gaming community, Regiment brings Veterans, service members and dependents together through gaming, camaraderie and shared support—both online and in person.

The Fair was offered in coordination with the 2026 Veteran Resources and Community Network (VRCN) Annual Convening. VA’s Veterans Experience Office leads VRCN and any Veteran-focused organization may request to join. Learn more about the VRCN, partnerships, outreach efforts, upcoming community engagement events and how to get involved.