Coronavirus: WilCo Help Line Doubles As Veterans Outreach

ROUND ROCK, TX — More than 5,200 veterans have been reached by the Williamson County call center as the eight-person services pulls double duty in calling military members to make sure they're doing okay amid the new coronavirus outbreak, officials said.

Created on April 1 to answer residents' questions related to the respiratory illness, officials said the call center doubles as an outreach function to those serving their country. Since the function's inception, veterans have been receiving special one-on-one calls to check on the welfare of military living in the county, officials said in a news release.

“Our goal is to lift their spirits by providing support and information that can help fulfill any needs,” Holly Justice, the call center supervisor, said in a prepared statement. “They appreciate hearing a friendly voice checking on them."

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The eight-member call center aims to make about 300 plus calls per day, Monday through Friday, in between answering dozens of calls from residents regarding new coronavirus, officials explained.In terms of calls to veterans, conversations center on any unmet needs they may have with a goal to serve as a liaison to information on resources that can help fill their needs, officials explained.

In making those calls to vets, county employees either leave a voicemail with information, or they are able to successfully connect over the phone with a man or woman who served in our military forces, county officials added.

One of those veterans getting a special call is Almas Sami, a disabled Air Force veteran and former law enforcement officer. “I appreciate Williamson County for showing how important veterans are, that’s what makes this country so great,”Sami said.

To date, officials noted that more than 5,213 veterans have received a call from Williamson County so far. "We estimate that all veterans who live in Williamson County and are on the Williamson County Veterans Services office data base will receive a call by next week," officials wrote in their news release.

For more information on services provided by the Williamson County Veterans Services office please visit, https://www.wilco.org/vetservices.