New vets’ resource program announced

A new veterans program was announced Friday by Carson City-based Nevada Rural Counties RSVP Program (RSVP), Inc.

It’s called the Veterans’ Volunteers in Partnership Program, or Veterans VIP, according to Susan Haas, executive director and CEO of RSVP. Announcement of the new program being sponsored by RSVP was accompanied by word RSVP was introducing its newest member, Ryan Lia, a veteran with degrees in psychology and anthropology from the University of Nevada, Reno. Lia, who has served in Afghanistan and other places, also is an AmeriCorps VISTA member working with RSVP, according to Haas.

“He will be working with RSVP to provide information to veterans about resources that they need to lift themselves out of poverty,” said Haas.

The RSVP effort for veterans is a volunteer program and is geared toward helping vets by empowering them and communities to tackle poverty and related problems in part by recruiting volunteers to assist the vets. Volunteers need not be veterans themselves, according to the Haas’ news release.

She said each day the nation loses 22 veterans to suicide and part of the program has included formation of a RSVP partnership with the Nevada Office of Suicide Prevention, as well as linking vets up with other resources that can help veterans. Prospective clients or volunteers may contact Ryan Lia at (775) 687-4689, extension 119, or e-mail avista@nvrsvp.com.