Cook County Military and Veterans Resource Fairs
Cook County Military and Veterans Resource Fairs
Cook County Department of Veterans Affairs (CCVA) proudly hosts the annual Military and Veterans Resource Fair at Brookfield Zoo Chicago. This event brings military, veteran and community organizations together under one roof to connect the military community with the services and benefits they have earned.
This free event is open to veterans, current service members, military families, caregivers and survivors. Attendees can connect with local, state, federal and nonprofit organizations offering assistance with health care, employment, benefits and much more.
2026 Military and Veterans Resource Fair at Brookfield Zoo Chicago
Date: Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026
Time: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Location: Discovery Center, Brookfield Zoo Chicago, 3300 Golf Road, Brookfield, IL 60513
Register for Event
Admission to the event is free, and free parking will be available for all attendees.
To help organizations connect you with available military and veteran benefits, please bring one of the following, if available:
- DD Form 214
- Military ID Card
- Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)
- VA-issued identification
- Retired military ID
- Other proof of military service
Documentation is encouraged but is not required to attend.
Participating Vendors for 2026 Resource Fair:
| Alternative Home Health + Care, Inc. America Cares Too AMVETS Arthur Lockhart Resource Institute Bloom Township Center Blue Star Families Chicago BRAVE Program Century 21 IMPACT Chicago Veterans Chicagoland Young Marines ClearCaptions Cook County Bureau of Economic Development Cook County Clerk’s Office Cook County Department of Public Health Cook County Emergency Management and Regional Security Cook County Health and CountyCare Cook County Human Resources Cook County Law Library Department of Illinois Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. Devoted Health Plans Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital - Outreach Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital - Peer Support Specialist Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital - Whole Health Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital - Suicide Prevention Program Entrepreneurs Academy | Forest Park Vet Center Grand Canyon University Help Heal VeteransIL Survivor Outreach Services Illinois Armed Forces Legal Aid Network (IL-AFLAN) Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs Jesse Brown VA Hospital - Women's Health Leave No Veteran Behind National Able Network - Veterans Forward National Louis University Oak Street Health Bellwood Of Color, Inc. Operation: Job Ready Veterans Post-9/11 Military2VA Program Senior Helpers of Bolingbrook Serenity Home Healthcare, Inc. The Veterans Practice Treatment Alternatives for Stronger Communities UChicago AdventHealth Hospice University of Illinois Chicago U.S. Department of Labor - Wage and Hour Division U.S. Navy Veterans Assistance Commission of Cook County Veterans Restorative Justice Well With My Soul Holistic Health Center LLC William Rainey Harper Community College |
Previous Events
CCVA's Military and Veterans Resource Fairs have brought together hundreds of military-connected residents with dozens of community partners to increase access to benefits, services and opportunities.
The 2025 Military and Veterans Resource Fair at Brookfield Zoo Chicago featured representatives from local, state, federal and nonprofit organizations providing information on health care, disability benefits, education, employment, housing, financial assistance and other essential services.
These events continue to strengthen connections between Cook County's military community and the organizations dedicated to serving those who have served.