Mission United

Are you a Veteran, Active Duty Service Member or Military Family?

This is where you get the support you’ve earned.

Mission United is a United Way program of United Way of Lake and Sumter Counties and while Mission United is dedicated to serves those who have served, it also provides a personal touch that many of the Veterans Affairs options are simply unable to accommodate, often due to capacity.

Our Mission United team’s primary role is to help Veterans navigate the system of benefits available, whether by providing those options directly or connecting our Veterans to a resource for any of the following services:

  • Medical Transportation Services
  • Employment Services
  • Legal Assistance
  • Education
  • Financial Stability
  • Health Care
  • Stability Housing

More than 34,000 Veterans call Lake or Sumter County home. Whether they left the services years ago or are currently transitioning to civilian life, many struggle with the challenges of navigating a complex system of services and finding their place in the community. Our Mission United program is a collective effort that identifies gaps and creates systemic change in the area of health care access, education, and stability assistance.

For individual assistance and case management, contact our Mission United Coordinator, Mr. Tracey Schoonmaker at 352-787-7530 ext 242 or via EMAIL.

Want a Ride on that bus?

 

United Way of Lake and Sumter Counties is pleased to announce the launch of our Mission United Transportation Program, from the Clermont VA Clinic to the Lake Nona VA Center.

For more infromation, call 352-787-8788

 

MU- Van

Title VI Disclosures May Be Found at the Bottom of this Page.

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To make a donation in support of Veterans or designated to the Mission United program, visit our DONATE selections.

 COVID-19 Pfizer-BioNTech Booster Clinic Locations

Location 

Additional Information  

Malcom Randall VAMC*  1601 SW Archer Road  Gainesville, FL 32608 

No Appointment Needed    1. Primary Care Waiting Room (located on the first floor near Valet Parking) Monday- Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. 

2. Independence Parking Garage Monday- Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. 

3. Gainesville Auditorium (Near Canteen) Monday- Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.  

American Legion Post #57* (Lake City) 2602 SW Main Blvd. Lake City  

No Appointment Needed   Monday- Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. 

The Villages Outpatient Clinic*  8900 Southeast 165th Mulberry Lane  The Villages, FL 32162-5884 

Appointment Preferred but not required (Near the Clinical Access Unit (CAU) Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. 

Timuquana Market Place*  5150 Timuquana Road Suite 6,   Jacksonville, FL 32210 

No Appointment Needed  Monday- Friday 8:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m.    

 

 

Appointments: 352-548-6000 ext. 103755

Starting Wednesday September 29,2021,

VA will offer Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine boosters under Emergency Use Authorization.

  • Individuals who should get a Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 booster dose:
    • People 65 years and older and residents in long-term care settings who received a Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 primary vaccine series at least six months ago
    • People 50 to 64 years old with underlying medical conditions who received a Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 primary vaccine series at least six months ago
  • Individuals who may opt to get a Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 booster dose, based on their individual benefits and risks, including:
    • People 18 to 49 years old with underlying medical conditions who received a Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 primary vaccine series at least six months ago
    • People 18 to 64 years old who are at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of their occupational or institutional setting who received a Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 primary vaccine series at least six months ago

Coming in HOT!!!


Great News for Florida Veterans, their spouses and caregivers!

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities can now provide COVID-19 vaccines to all Veterans, regardless of character of discharge, their spouses and adult caregivers at no cost! 

Sign up here: https://www.va.gov/health-care/covid-19-vaccine/sign-up/introduction, check out their websites or give them a call to learn how you can get the COVID-19 vaccine.

Bay Pines VA Healthcare System (web site) or call 888-820-0230
James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital – Tampa (web site) or call 888-716-7787
Miami VA Healthcare System (web site) or call 305-575-7000
North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System (web site) or call 352-548-6000 ext. 103755
Orlando VA Healthcare System (web site) or call 407-631-0499
West Palm Beach VA Medical Center (web site) or call 800-972-8262 ext. 5220

President Joe Biden recently signed the SAVE LIVES Act into law, expanding VA’s legal ‎authority to provide COVID-19 vaccines to all Veterans, regardless of their VA health ‎care enrollment status, as well as Veteran spouses, caregivers and some beneficiaries.

 

Veteran Information Briefing


Coursera for the Military Family Community
Through partnerships with select nonprofit organizations (including our local partners Allegiant Giving and The Warrior Alliance), Coursera brings more than 4,000 training and skills development courses to transitioning service members, veterans, and military spouses—for free! Visit their recently-launched community group Coursera for the Military Family Community to learn more about how vets and military spouses can access no-cost learning opportunities.

Warrior-Scholar Project academic boot camps
The Warrior-Scholar Project is accepting applications for their college preparatory academic boot camps this summer! Options include Humanities, STEM, and Business & Entrepreneurship. The programs are open to enlisted veterans and transitioning service members. Veterans can find all the details and submit an application right here.

COVID-19 Vaccines at the VA Updates:

  • Vaccines available by appointment at the Orlando VA locations 407-631-0499 or Click Here for more detailed information and eligibility.
  • Vaccines available by appointment only at the North Florida South Georgia VA System.  Call 800-324-8387 or Click Here for more detailed information and eligibility.

 

The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)


The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is a U.S. government program run by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) program to help low-income households pay for internet service and connected devices like a laptop or tablet.

You are likely eligible if your household’s income is below 200% of the Federal Poverty Line, or if you or someone you live with currently receives a government benefit like SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, WIC, Pell Grant, or Free and Reduced-Price Lunch.

Click to Apply

VALife Insurance Program 


In January 2023, VA will launch a new life insurance program called Veterans Affairs Life Insurance (VALife), which provides guaranteed acceptance whole life insurance coverage to veterans age 80 and under, with any level of service-connected disability. Some veterans age 81 and older may also be eligible.

Click to read more

Military Woman

Mission United – A United Way Program to Serve Those Who Have Served

For individual assistance and case management, contact our Mission United Coordinator, Mr. Tracey Schoonmaker at 352-787-7530 ext 242 or via EMAIL.

Wish to honor a Veteran or donate in memory of a Veteran? Sponsor a Veteran Badge.

Title VI Notification

United Way of Lake and Sumter Counties, Inc.

 United Way of Lake and Sumter Counties operates its programs and services without regard to race, color, and national origin in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. Any person who believes she or he has been aggrieved by any unlawful discriminatory practice under Title VI may file a complaint with United Way of Lake and Sumter Counties.

For more information on  United Way of Lake and Sumter Counties’ civil rights program, and the procedures to file a complaint, contact 352-787-7530; email: MissionUnited@UWLS.org or visit our administrative office at 32644 Blossom Lane, Leesburg, FL 34788.

If information is needed in another language, contact 352-787-7530.

FTA Circular 4702.1B, Chapter 111, Paragraph 6: All recipients shall develop procedures for investigating and tracking Title VI complaints filed against them and make their procedures for filing a complaint available to member of the public.

Complaint Procedure

Any person who believes he or she has been discriminated against on the basis of race, color, or national origin by United Way of Lake and Sumter Counties may file a Title VI complaint by completing and submitting the agency’s Title VI Complaint Form.  United Way of Lake and Sumter Counties investigates complaints received no more than 180 days after the alleged incident. United Way of Lake and Sumter Counties will process complaints that are complete.

Once the complaint is received,  United Way of Lake and Sumter Counties will review it to determine if our office has jurisdiction. The complainant will receive an acknowledgement letter informing him/her whether the complaint will be investigated by our office.

 United Way of Lake and Sumter Counties has ninety (90) days to investigate the complaint. If more information is needed to resolve the case,  United Way of Lake and Sumter Counties may contact the complainant. The complainant has ten (10) business days from the date of the letter to send requested information to the investigator assigned to the case. If the investigator is not contacted by the complainant or does not receive the additional information within ten (10) business days,  United Way of Lake and Sumter Counties can administratively close the case. A case can also be administratively closed if the complainant no longer wishes to pursue their case.

After the investigator reviews the complaint, she/he will issue one of two letters to the complainant: a closure letter or a letter of finding (LOF). A closure letter summarizes the allegations and states that there was not a Title VI violation and that the case will be closed. A LOF summarizes the allegations and the interviews regarding the alleged incident, and explains whether any disciplinary action, additional training of the staff member or other action will occur. If the complainant wishes to appeal the decision, she/he has seven (7) days to do so from the time he/she receives the closure letter or the LOF.

The complaint procedure will be made available to the public on the United Way of Lake and Sumter Counties website at https://www.uwls.org.

Complaint Form

A copy of the complaint form in English is provided in Appendix E and on the United Way of Lake and Sumter Counties website at https://www.uwls.org.

Title VI Procedures and Compliance Form

“Discrimination complaints about transportation-related services or benefits may be filed with U.S. DOT or FTA Headquarters Office of Civil Rights”

Reasonable Modification Policy

The Department of Transportation has revised its rules under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. It now specifically provides that transportation
agencies are required to make reasonable modifications to policies, practices, and procedures to avoid discrimination and ensure that their programs are accessible to individuals with disabilities.

United Way of Lake and Sumter Counties, Inc. is committed to providing safe, reliable, efficient, and accessible service to its customers. To ensure equality and fairness, United Way of Lake and Sumter Counties, Inc. will make reasonable modifications to policies and procedures to ensure that individuals with disabilities have equal access to all of its services.

Exceptions would include modifications that:
• Cause a direct threat to the health and/or safety of others;
• Result in a fundamental alteration of the nature of the service;
• Are not necessary in order for the individual with a disability to fully utilize United Way of Lake and Sumter Counties, Inc.’s services

Anyone who would like to request a modification of policies or procedures to participate in a United Way of Lake and Sumter Counties, Inc. program or service should contact:
Tracey Schoonmaker at 352-787-7530 ext 242 or MissionUnited@uwls.org