Reaching Rural Veterans: Rena Sterrett and Jake Newton

Rena Sterrett and Jake Newton work to provide resources to military and veteran families through the Military Family Research Institute and its Reaching Rural Veterans program. 

The Military Family Research Institute (MFRI) of Purdue is an organization that helps military and veteran families through information gathering and direct community support. MFRI conducted the Reaching Rural Veterans (RRV) program to serve rural communities directly. Research and direct community engagement with food pantries have provided resources and services to around 1,000 veterans. 

Rena Sterrett, Senior Community Outreach Specialist for MFRI and leader of the RRV initiative, explained that simply spreading the correct information to veterans can have an impact. She said many of the veterans they serve are older and were unaware of the benefits available to them before RRV. Research from the program indicates that there has been an eight percent increase in VA pensions used in these communities.

“It was eye-opening to realize that so many veterans were unaware that they qualified for already existing benefits,” said Sterrett.

But it isn’t just information that RRV has provided to veteran and military families. Healthcare, education, employment, and financial service organizations have all been connected to these communities through the RRV program. The goal is to give veterans the resources and support they need to live their lives. Their needs are assessed through direct community engagement.

Jake Newton works as an Outreach Specialist at MFRI, with a focus on the RRV program. He explained how he and his team surveyed veterans directly and assisted veterans. “Engagement is about the one-on-one you have, ‘how are you,’ and ‘how can we help’ that highlights the importance of serving the community directly,” said Newton.  

The RRV program consisted of several phases. Phase one of the program was the information gathering stage, which also consisted of providing resources through a collaboration between MFRI and food pantries within communities in Kentucky and Indiana. This work with local food pantries continued through the following phases. 

Once the community’s needs were determined, phase two began in Illinois, serving five counties and about 245 veterans. While serving these communities, data was collected on veteran needs and the effectiveness of RRV. During phase three, RRV received a grant from the Bob Woodruff Foundation for approximately $100,000 and collaborated with eight separate food pantries within Indiana.

Phase four is currently being conducted in Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio with around 14 pantries.

Research on the program’s impact is still being conducted, but the data from phase two indicates a substantial increase in the use of veteran benefits. For instance, an 11 percent increase in employer pension use, a 13 percent increase in social security use, and an increase in free meals at food pantries were all evident in the data collected.

MFRI’s impact continues to grow. With the help of a $5,000,000 grant from the Lily Endowment, MFRI can complete its work on the RRV program and learn from the more than 150 communities served. Funds from the Lily Endowment will also help support the MFRI organization as a whole. The organization will continue its work empowering veteran and military families into the foreseeable future.

To learn more about MFRI and the RRV program, visit their website here.