I would like people to know is that our warriors, in many cases, are struggling. They leave us as barely children. Many fresh out of high school and so often come back to us unrecognizable - war harded veterans. Many return with injured brains as well as injured minds. They return as amputees or blind, as paraplegics . . . all sorts of life changing injuries. Most people never get to really see their struggles. 

Many are stuck living in a world completely dependent on a massive bureaucracy, the VA system. Once they come back, especially the combat wounded, many experience great struggles with depression, loneliness and isolation.  Their memory might not be what it used to be, nor their comprehension for that matter. These conditions make it very difficult to obtain good, or any employment. They are not yet thirty and many already feel useless. Worse, is that they have the feeling people don't care about the sacrifice they have made and continue to make daily. Many turn to drinking, drugging  - to a boring no-future life. Sometimes they give up on their dreams altogether which is the saddest of all. Suicide is always a real concern. Some end up in shelters, some with DUIs, others with appointments at the VA two to three times a week.

A typical complaint we hear is "I hate some of the medication I'm given - It turns me into a zombie unable to function." While this is not the rule, it is not the exception either.  We need your help to create an environment where veterans can always get emergency assistance, where we have a constant fellowship, and where we build strong partnerships with community leaders and bring them together as often as possible to create an extended family that learns to care for each other.

"The only time I feel like laughing and joking is when I'm with my brothers. The ones that have been in combat - I feel safe there."  Please help us continue this work.