JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — – Local military veterans and active-duty service members will have access to critical community resources and utility savings during the inaugural Veterans Resource Day hosted by JEA on Tuesday, May 20.
The free event will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at JEA Headquarters, located at 225 N. Pearl St. in downtown Jacksonville. Validated parking will be available at the Duval County Courthouse garage at 151 Clay St.
Veterans Resource Day aims to support military personnel as they transition to civilian life by connecting them with local nonprofit organizations and city agencies that offer assistance ranging from housing and employment to healthcare and financial support.
Participants include:
- Builders Care
- Catholic Charities
- Changing Homelessness
- City of Jacksonville Military and Veterans Affairs
- Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Centerstone
- Department of Veterans Affairs
- ElderSource
- Operation Lifeline
- Operation New Uniform
- United Way of Northeast Florida’s Mission United
- Wounded Warrior Project
The inspiration for the event came from a JEA employee who knows firsthand the challenges of returning to civilian life. Natalia Smith, a U.S. Navy veteran who served for eight years, struggled with her job search after moving to Jacksonville in 2023. She enrolled at Jacksonville University and landed a summer internship at JEA in May 2024. When the internship ended, she was hired to work in JEA’s Customer Experience division.
Shortly after starting her new role, Smith was asked by her manager for suggestions based on her experience as an intern. Her immediate response: create an event to support local veterans in transition. That idea led to the creation of Veterans Resource Day at JEA.
In addition to the resource fair, veterans who have pre-scheduled appointments with Catholic Charities will have the opportunity to apply for utility bill assistance. Catholic Charities administers JEA’s Neighbor to Neighbor Fund, which helps eligible residents cover a portion of their utility expenses.
Free parking is available at the Courthouse Garage (corner of Adams and Clay Streets). Please bring your parking ticket to the event to be validated.
To schedule an appointment for assistance, call (904) 632-0600 or dial 2-1-1. Appointments are subject to availability, require documentation, and eligibility is determined by each agency.
For more information, visit jea.com or contact JEA’s customer service.