Vets Connect at Corona City Library expands volunteer team; office hours, book club and outreach described

Library Specialist Martin Villegas told the Corona City Library Board of Trustees that the library’s Vets Connect program has rebuilt its volunteer team and is preparing to expand services, outreach and quarterly activities for local veterans.

Villegas described the program’s core service as weekly office hours that connect veterans and their families with benefits, housing, healthcare, employment and local resources. He said office hours currently operate on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., with plans to expand as volunteers complete training.

Volunteers and program leads cited several accomplishments and community partnerships. Villegas credited a volunteer named David as the program’s lead in training new volunteers; other new volunteers mentioned during the meeting included Carol and Veil (first name only in transcript). Long‑time volunteer Sally leads the Veterans Connect Book Club. The book club meets on the first and third Wednesday of each month at 10:30 a.m. in the library boardroom and provides books and coffee to club members.

Villegas listed outreach and recent events that supported the program’s mission: an annual resource fair (with local partners such as the Corona Vet Center, Norco College veterans career center and Riverside County housing agencies), a city event called Amber Waves of Grain where the library hosted a booth, and distribution of therapeutic craft kits for veterans and families. He said the program has received donations from the Amber Waves of Grain committee, the Corona Elks Lodge No. 2045 and the Women’s Improvement Club of Corona; donations are used primarily to buy books for the book club, pay for food at events and support small giveaways or other veteran supports.

On caseload, Villegas estimated the program directly serves roughly two to three veterans per month at the library through in‑person visits, calls or emails, though he said a single client interaction can involve multiple referrals and substantial follow‑up. He described typical assistance as referrals to the VA (Loma Linda), the Corona Vet Center, county housing resources, employment services and local transportation partners when needed. Villegas said he and volunteers are developing a community survey and improved intake form to better understand barriers such as transportation.

Villegas noted the program’s role in tracking federal developments that affect veterans’ benefits; he cited the PACT Act (Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxins Act) as an example of legislation that expanded eligibility for certain claims and earlier drove visits to the program. He said the library intends to develop a calendar of quarterly social events and to increase community outreach to raise awareness of available services.

There were no public speaker cards or written comments on the item at the meeting. Trustees thanked staff and volunteers and encouraged increased outreach and word‑of‑mouth referrals to reach more veterans in need.