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By ROBYN JAMES | Special to the Reporter

ALABASTER – The city of Alabaster is working to better serve veterans. Goodwin-Lee American Legion Post 138 in Alabaster has taken up the helm to lead the effort for a new veterans’ center to serve all veterans across the Shelby County region.

Paul Gonthier, Post 138’s Commander, has had this vision since taking up his post two years ago, and thanked city leaders who recently passed a resolution offering a new location to house the center.

The veterans center will be located behind the Alabaster Police Department in the Municipal Annex building on the second floor.

“We are committed and moving forward with our new center to better serve our veterans who have sacrificed so much through their service to others,” Gonthier said. “We are involving all veterans groups, city leaders and community volunteers who will serve as one body to share their energy and talents to help our veterans.”

Now in its planning phase, veterans and their families can expect to get real help in a real time of need through this one-stop service location.

“If a veteran needs crisis counseling, help connecting with resources or assistance to locate or complete military or public benefits paperwork, the veterans center will assist them” Gonthier said.

But the vision for the center goes beyond the one-on-one personalized help veterans can expect to receive.

“A big priority for us is to also connect our veterans back in their communities and to each other so they can have a strong impact and presence across our region” Gonthier said.

There is more to be done to get the center up and running, and through the help of dedicated veterans groups, city leaders and community volunteers, veterans who gave so much will soon have these invaluable services easily available to them at the center.

If you want to assist American Legion Post 138 with this effort to serve veterans across the region, please reach out by visiting the Goodwin-Lee Post 138 American Legion Facebook page, email them at post138al@gmail.com or call (205) 538-1941.