Veterans Resources Newsletter
April 2026
📬 From the Editor
🌿 Spring is here. So are your resources, your community, and your people. 🌿
April brings longer days, fresh momentum, and a community that keeps showing up for one another. This month, we are celebrating the energy that carried us through March and looking ahead to a packed April calendar full of opportunities to connect, learn, and access the support you have earned.
The Veteran Women’s Connection Event at Fresno State Winery was a highlight of Women’s History Month. It was a room full of women veterans building real relationships in a beautiful setting. That kind of community does not happen by accident. It happens because people choose to show up. Thank you to everyone who was there, and to the TRIO Student Support Services Veterans program at Fresno State for making it possible.
This month also brings critical legal education, a major housing resource summit, and a joyful celebration of new veteran parents. Whether you need information, connection, or just to know what is happening in the community, this newsletter is here to be your starting point.
Jessica M. Hanna, Editor
Highlights
April’s calendar reflects the breadth of what our veteran community needs and deserves. The month opens on April 6 with the Women Veterans Meet and Greet at the VA Central California Health Care System, a welcoming space for women veterans to connect with peers, access healthcare services, and find community resources. Central California Legal Services is hosting Veterans’ Law Day on April 16, bringing free legal education and intake services directly to veterans at the VA campus. Topics range from powers of attorney and conservatorship to tenant rights and consumer debt. Practical knowledge that can change lives. The following weekend, the Veteran Housing and Resource Summit on April 18 offers a full-day free seminar covering home buying, VA loan processes, Cal Vet services, and connection to a wide range of veteran-specific programs. All three events are free, and community partners will be on site.
Looking ahead to May, the Fresno-Yosemite Daughters of the American Revolution is organizing a Baby Shower for Veteran New Parents at the Central California VA Hospital on May 2. Donation deadlines are approaching. See the announcement below for how to contribute.
Community Spotlights
Women Veterans Meet & Greet
The VA Central California Health Care System hosts a recurring Women Veterans Meet-and-Greet on the first Monday of each month. The next date is April 6, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Building 24 Auditorium, 2615 East Clinton Avenue, Fresno, CA 93703. The event features an introduction to VA services, including peer support, women’s mental health, military sexual trauma, maternity care, reproductive rights, intimate partner violence, LGBTQ+ services, whole health, and volunteer services.
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 10:00 – 10:10 | Welcome bags and coffee |
| 10:10 – 10:30 | Introduction of Services |
| 10:30 – 10:55 | Q&A |
| 10:55 – 11:00 | Closing |
Contact: Xeena Spellman, Peer Support Specialist, Mental Health Services
Phone: (559) 225-6100, ext. 5964
Email: Xeena.Spellman@va.gov
Veteran Women’s Connection Event
Milestones
What began a decade ago as an informal lunch gathering for a small cohort of women veterans in the TRIO Student Support Services program at Fresno State has grown into exactly what it was always meant to be: a room full of women who served, finally finding each other. On March 26, women veterans gathered at the Fresno State Winery for an evening of connection, celebration, and community. Hosted by TRIO Student Support Services Program & TRIO Student Support Services Veterans. Attended by the Veterans Resource Center and the Veterans Education Program at Fresno State, the event brought together a diverse group of women who have served.
They shared stories, built friendships, and honored one another’s journeys. The atmosphere was warm, the conversations were real, and the room was full of exactly the kind of peer energy that sustains veterans long after formal programs end.
A permanent jewelry vendor, Fern the Label, added a festive touch with charm and engraving services on site.
This is what community looks like. Congratulations to everyone who made this evening possible, and to every woman veteran who showed up.
Veterans’ Law Day
Overview
Central California Legal Services (CCLS) is hosting Veterans’ Law Day on April 16, 2026. This full-day legal education and intake event takes place at the VA Central California campus. Presentations are designed to give veterans practical knowledge of their civil legal rights across a wide range of matters. Community partner resource tables will also be available throughout the day.
Event Schedule
| 10:00 AM | Welcome and Overview of Veterans’ Legal Services Project |
| 10:30 AM | Powers of Attorney and Advanced Health Care Directives |
| 11:15 AM | Obtaining a Conservatorship |
| 11:45 AM | Defending Against a Conservatorship |
| 12:45 PM | Child Support Issues |
| 1:15 PM | Divorce Basics |
| 2:00 PM | Consumer Debt and Bankruptcy Basics |
| 2:30 PM | Tenants’ Rights |
Announcements
Date: Thursday, April 16, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Location: VA Central California Health Care System Auditorium, Building 24, 2615 E. Clinton Ave, Fresno, CA
No registration required. CCLS provides free civil legal services to eligible veterans, including benefits, consumer protection, domestic violence, family law, healthcare access, housing, medical debt, and estate planning.
Website: centralcallegal.org
Email: VLSP@centralcallegal.org
Veteran Housing and Resource Summit
Overview
The Central California Home Experts team is hosting a free, full-day Veteran Housing and Resource Summit on April 18, 2026. Open to all who have served, including full-time, part-time, and National Guard veterans, this event covers the practical knowledge veterans need to navigate homeownership and access the benefits they have earned. Representatives from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and local veteran resource partners will be on site. Continental breakfast and lunch are provided, and door prizes will be available.
Announcements
Date: Saturday, April 18, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Location: Parc Grove Commons, Community Room, 2674 E. Clinton Ave, Fresno, CA 93703 (across from the VA Hospital)
RSVP by: April 13, 2026
Register: https://rem.ax/VeteranSummit2026
Contact: Lisa Neufeld | 559-270-9682 | Lisa@CentralCaliforniaHomeExperts.com
Baby Shower for Veteran New Parents — Save the Date
About
The Fresno-Yosemite Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, in coordination with the Central California VA Hospital, is hosting a Baby Shower for Veteran New Parents on May 2, 2026. New and expecting veteran parents will receive donated diaper bags filled with essential baby items, made possible through community generosity. This is a celebration of new beginnings and a reminder that our commitment to veterans extends to their families.
Announcements
Date: Saturday, May 2, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM
Location: Central California Veterans Administration Hospital, Fresno
How to donate: Diaper bags are the highest priority item. Shop from the Amazon Wish List and ship directly to the DAR Coordinator, or bring your purchased gift to the event on May 2. All gifts shipped to the coordinator must be received by April 28. Please include your name or your organization’s name on the Amazon gift tag.
Amazon Wish List: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2KTOXUODRK0RP?ref_=wl_share
Questions: SallyTrippVA@gmail.com
Contact: Sally Tripp, VAVS Representative, Fresno-Yosemite DAR
Ongoing Events
Veterans Fall-In
Veterans Fall-In provides recurring opportunities for veterans to access employment, education, housing, and benefits support at the VA Auditorium throughout the year.
Central California Legal Service
Veterans Job Club
Provides employment-focused support for veterans, including job search assistance, training resources, and workforce readiness guidance through regularly scheduled Job Club sessions.
Bret Thomas
Central California Legal Services
Provides free civil legal assistance for eligible veterans through scheduled legal clinics, including support with benefits, housing, consumer issues, family law matters, and discharge upgrades.
Email: VJSP@centralcallegal.org
Contributing Organizations
Central Valley Veterans CVV)
Nonprofit coordinating veteran support services and community-based events across the Central Valley.
Clovis Veterans Memorial District
A community district dedicated to serving veterans and providing a venue for memorial and community events (celebrating 80 years of service).
Workforce Assistance Center
A regional hub providing employment services, training, and job search resources for job seekers and employers.
Fresno VA / VA Central California Health Care System
Provides comprehensive health care and supportive services to veterans in Central California and across the US.
Kings County Veterans Services
A government agency providing assistance to veterans and their families in obtaining state and federal benefits.
Fresno County Veterans Service Office
A county office that assists veterans in navigating the VA system and securing earned benefits.
The Student Support Services Veterans (SSSV) program provides a comprehensive support network for first-generation, low-income, or disabled student veterans transitioning to academic life. Participants receive specialized benefits, including individualized academic counseling, priority registration, and access to exclusive supplemental grant aid. This initiative fosters a strong community through peer mentoring and dedicated resources, such as private computer labs and textbook loans.
About This Newsletter
This newsletter curates publicly available information from veteran-serving organizations across Fresno County to improve coordination, visibility, and access to services. All events and programs are hosted by the organizations listed.
Feedback & Suggestions
Have an event, update, or correction to share? Submissions are welcome to help keep this information accurate and useful.
Editor: JMHANNA
Community coordination, accessibility, and instructional design support
Contact: jmhanna.ca@gmail.com | LinkedIn | Website