Nielsen honors Butte County nonprofit for veterans
SACRAMENTO » State Sen. Jim Nielsen (R-Red Bluff) honored the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 582 of Butte County on Wednesday, which was California Nonprofits Day, as the 2022 Nonprofit of the Year at the state capitol.
One hundred nine nonprofits were honored on the capitol steps.
“The VVA Chapter 582 have been great partners for veterans and the community following multiple disasters and were pivotal in getting Paradise and Magalia residents who were burned out from the Camp Fire in rebuilding,” said Sadie Foster, district coordinator and legislative aide for Nielsen.
Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 582’s goals are to promote and support the full range of issues important to Vietnam veterans, to create a new identity for this generation of veterans, and to change public perception of Vietnam veterans, according to a press release.
“It is a deep honor to receive this award from Senator Nielsen,” Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 582 President Ron Matheson said in the release. “It warms my heart to help Vietnam veterans get off the streets.”
VVA 582’s main event is Butte County Veterans Stand Down, which helps provide resources to local veterans who are struggling, with an emphasis on getting veterans out of homelessness. At the 2021 event in October in Chico, canteens, sleeping bags, boots and jackets were given to veterans for free, according to the release.
“It’s their largest event, they get local resources such as housing and medical information,” Foster said.
Foster said the office is planning on another event in Butte County to give Chapter 582 a large, framed resolution from the state
Senate at the Butte County event. The date of the event has not yet been decided. The group was given a certificate in the meantime.
Nielsen served as chair of the Senate Veterans Committee and was the only Republican chairing a committee.
“Nielsen is passionate about veterans being taken care of by the country and state,” Foster said. “Veterans can get benefits, are provided transportation, are helped get in with the (Veterans Administration) and get paperwork in and find housing. It helps pull veterans from poor situations and get resources they are entitled to.”
“The services and support VVA 582 provides our Vietnam veterans are vital and are a powerful contribution to their quality of life in Senate District 4,” Nielsen said in the release.
For information on how to contact VVA 582, visit https://vva.org/chapter/ vva-chapter-582.