The Erie VA Medical Center will have a coffee social for LGBTQ+ veterans this Friday, April 18, at 10 AM at the Erie VA Veteran Canteen, located in the Erie VA basement at 135 E 38th St., Erie, PA 16504. The Coffee Social is meant to bring Erie's local LGBTQ+ Veterans together to connect and foster ongoing relationships of support and friendship. Veterans will learn about VA services available including: Hormone treatment, Substance use/alcohol treatment & tobacco cessation treatment, Treatment and information on prevention of sexually transmitted infections/PrEP, Mental Health, and Fitness (Diet and Exercise). For more information, contact Brittany Miklos at 814-844-5944. This event is open to all LGBTQ+ Veterans in all counties served by the Erie VA. LGBTQ+ Veterans interested in enrolling in VA Healthcare are encouraged to attend.

The Erie VA Medical Center will have a coffee social for LGBTQ+ venters on Friday, March 28, 2025, at 10 AM at the Erie VA Veteran Canteen, located in the Erie VA basement at 135 E 38th St., Erie, PA 16504. This group will plan to meet on the 4th Friday of every month. Times are subject to change based on availability. The Coffee Social is meant to bring Erie's local LGBTQ+ Veterans together to connect and foster ongoing relationships of support and friendship.

The Erie VA Medical Center LGBTQ+ Program and Peer Support are hosting a Coffee Social for LGBTQ+ Veterans on Friday, November 22 at 10 a.m. at Panera Bread (4014 Peach St, Erie, PA 16509). The Coffee Social is meant to bring Erie's local LGBTQ+ Veterans together to connect and foster ongoing relationships of support and friendship. The group will start off with facilitation by Erie VA staff, Brittany and Alisha, with the goal to be an independently run community Veteran group for like-minded individuals. Please call Brittany Miklos at 814-844-5944 or Alisha Mackey at 814-860-2174 for more information and updates on event location and time. Times are subject to change based on availability. For more information and updates, visit www.erie.va.gov or https://www.facebook.com/VAMCErie/

The Erie VA Medical Center LGBTQ+ Program and Peer Support are hosting a Coffee Social for LGBTQ+ Veterans Friday, October 18 at 10 a.m. at Perkins Restaurant (4403 Peach St, Erie, PA 16509). The Coffee Social is meant to bring Erie's local LGBTQ+ Veterans together to connect and foster ongoing relationships of support and friendship. The group will start off with facilitation by Erie VA staff, Brittany and Alisha, with the goal to be an independently run community Veteran group for like-minded individuals. Please call Brittany Miklos at 814-844-5944 or Alisha Mackey at 814-860-2174 for more information and updates on event location and time. This group will plan to meet on the 3rd Friday of every month. Times are subject to change based on availability. For more information and updates, visit www.erie.va.gov or https://www.facebook.com/VAMCErie/

Erie VAMC is pleased to announce that we are now opening COVID-19 vaccine appointments to Veterans of all ages who are enrolled and receiving care at the Erie VAMC or one of our community-based outpatient clinics (Ashtabula, Crawford, McKean, Venango, and Warren). Please note, vaccine distribution is by appointment only. Eligible Veterans can call 814-868-8661, press 2 to schedule your COVID-19 vaccine appointment.

On Tuesday, June 25, The Erie VA Medical Center hosted an LGBT+ Pride Event. All Veterans, their families and the community were invited to attend in the second floor conference rooms of the main facility located at 135 E 38th St., Erie, PA. The event celebrated the achievements of LGBT+ Veterans and their perseverance that led to the ability for Veterans to openly serve! There was a brief program that included very moving presentations by LGBT veterans Beth and Frank, which was followed by a resource fair of both VA and local programs/organizations.s. Photos are by Adrian Osman and Michael Mahler.

All Veterans, their families and the community are invited to the Erie VA Medical Center's LGBT+ Pride event June 25 from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. in the second floor conference rooms of the main facility located at 135 E 38th St., Erie, PA. We will celebrate the achievements of LGBT+ Veterans and their perseverance that led to the ability for Veterans to openly serve! There will be a brief presentation followed by a resource fair of both VA and local programs/organizations. For more information, or if you are an LGBT+ Veteran who would like to be recognized at the event, please contact the Erie VA Medical Center's LGBT Veteran Care Coordinator, Kimberly Hackbarth at 814-860-2074 or Kimberly.hackbarth@va.gov.

The Erie VA Medical Center's LGBT Veteran Care Coordinator will be the guest speaker at the VETX Speaker Series at the Blasco Library June 13 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. There will be a brief lecture highlighting the LGBT+ Veteran community followed by a Q&A session. All Veterans, their family members, and anyone in the community wanting to learn how to better serve our Veterans are invited to attend. For more information, please contact the Erie VAMC LGBT VCC, Kimberly Hackbarth, at Kimberly.hackbarth@va.gov or 814-860-2074

The Erie VA Medical Center held an LGBT Care and Services Veteran Discussion Panel November 21. The discussion panel, hosted by the facility's Veteran Experience Officers, featured an introduction to Erie VAMC's new LGBT Veteran Care Coordinator, presentations on services available from the prosthetics department and speech rehabilitation, and a guided discussion forum on care.

The Erie VA Medical Center would like to invite our LGBT Veterans and their family members to come out to our LGBT Care & Services Veteran Discussion Panel on Wednesday, November 21 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the 3rd floor conference rooms of the Erie VA Medical Center, 135 E 38th St, Erie, PA 16504. Veterans and family members will meet Erie VAMC'’'s new LGBT Veteran Care Coordinator, learn more about the VA and our services, and have the opportunity to provide feedback about their experiences at the Erie VAMC and Clinics. Any feedback will help us to improve our services so that we can continue to provide the best patient-centered care possible!