Veterans Expo held in East Providence

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Veterans from all over the state travelled to East Providence Saturday for the Veterans Expo and Job Fair.

The fourth annual expo was held at Riverside Middle School this year, offering vital resources to veterans.

“We’re all brothers and sisters, and if we don’t help each other, who’s going to help us?” former Marine Erika Westbrook said.

Westbrook works as the Veteran Services Coordinator for Newport Mental Health.

“It’s nice to have somebody to be there who’s been through what you’ve been through,” she said.

Thirty five veteran services and 13 employers took part in the event.

“We had 10 veterans hired on the floor today,” Matt Vianna of the Rhode Island Elks Association said.

From the experience of fighting her own mental battles in the past, Westbrook said the benefits of events like the expo can be “immeasurable,” and having other vets to work with has been crucial.

“Nobody wants to talk about their failures, but being able to connect with other veterans that have been there done that makes it so much easier,” she said.

Westbrook said that all veterans have access to services if they are struggling.

“You’re entitled to benefits through the [Department of Veterans’ Affairs],” she said. “You’re entitled to mental healthcare wherever you want to get mental healthcare, we can help you. There are resources available to help pay bills, there are resources available to help with home repairs, with everything from as simple as a bus pass to funding to help you renovate your house.”

The next veterans event will be SenderFest in October, but until then, Westbrook said help will always be there.

“You learn that you’re not alone, that you have somebody there who can give you a hand up when you need it,” she said.