Using money garnered from lottery games to help pay for social services is not a new idea, but one new scratch-off game is intended to help Texas veterans and their families.

Created during the 81st Legislative Session and introduced on Nov. 11, the Veteran’s Cash scratch-off tickets have already provided more than $1 million to the Texas Veterans Commission Fund for Veteran’s Assistance.

The fund was created by the 80th Texas Legislature to provide aid to veterans and their families in need.

“The scratch-off game came about because they were looking for a means to fund veterans programs in the state,” said Richard Hutchins, Bastrop County veterans’ service officer. “This money is to be used to not only help veteran’s organizations but to give independent grants to veterans who are needing extra assistance, whether that is for food, housing or whatever.”

The TVC announced last week that it has opened the grant application process for $1 million in grant funds for veterans’ assistance. Grant funds will be awarded in March 2010 and may be used to meet emergency financial needs of veterans and their families. These include such items as mortgage and rent payments, food assistance and utility payments, as well as helping with services such as transportation to and from VA hospitals and clinics, legal services, and treatment for PTSD and traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Hutchins said he expects he will receive information soon about the grant disbursement details and guidelines. In the meantime, he stands ready to help area veterans.

“Currently, I work with any Bastrop County veterans who need assistance and try to hook them up with local programs or programs in the surrounding areas,” he said.

Hutchins said he normally sees about 50 to 60 veterans a month.

“Out of that, the folks who need immediate assistance is about five to six people,” he said. “A lot of other veterans I see are those reaching retirement age and they need help with attaining healthcare and other benefits.”

One major area that Hutchins said local veterans need help with and are not getting it, is dental care.

“The number one thing in the county that I’ve had issues with is the capability to provide low or no-cost dental care to veterans,” he explained. “I have not been able to find anything in the Bastrop County area that I can send veterans to who are in dire need of dental health.”

Hutchins did say that one Bastrop dental office had offered to try and help.

“Maybe some of this money from the scratch off will be given to the county and let them handle handing it out,” he said. “It’s frustrating when I can’t find help in the county.”

Hutchins praised some local organizations, such as the Red, White and Blue Banquet committee and Bastrop Canteen, for their help in finding and providing resources for local veterans.