One-Stop
for Veterans
& Military
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Season of Giving Continues --
Mt. Carmel is Ready
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We joined the community to kick off the Season of Giving with two important events: a wreath telethon timed ahead of Veterans Day and our annual Operation Turkeys for Troops before Thanksgiving.
The telethon, in partnership with KRDO News Channel 13 and coloradohonor.com, is part of a nationwide effort to place wreaths on the graves of fallen veterans across the nation on December 14. Our team will assist the community with placements at 10 a.m.
As families of the fallen visit local cemeteries to celebrate their cherished veteran over the holidays, simple holiday wreaths will signal that this grateful community remembers and honors the sacrifice.
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Just before the Thanksgiving holiday, we continued an important Mt. Carmel Tradition: Operation Turkeys for Troops! With the help of generous donors and sponsors, we provided 1,200 turkeys to families of service members assigned to local military installations, 100 complete Thanksgiving baskets to local Gold Star Families, and an additional 200 baskets to the veteran community.
Heartfelt thanks, smiling faces and deep appreciation was the response from our military and veteran community for the Thanksgiving bounty. While many were honored (or embarrassed) to be recognized for their service, we know others face hidden challenges - food insecurity, employment difficulties, struggles with post-traumatic stress, and more. It was a unique opportunity to highlight Mt. Carmel as the Beacon of Support.
As the nation continues the longest period of sustained combat operations in our history, communities struggle for new ways to support our troops, veterans and families in meaningful ways. Beyond wreaths and turkeys, we need to re-dedicate ourselves to offer a more impactful hand-up. This means good jobs for veterans and families; easy access to behavioral health and supportive services; and sometimes a listening ear when a veteran is ready to share the story of their service. Providing a hand-up requires a strong grip and these are the muscles required.
At Mt. Carmel, this is our focus each day, and we’re thankful to many community partners who serve alongside our staff – all with a servant’s heart.
To all who see this message:
- If you need our services, or know someone who does, please visit
- To future partners and supporters wishing to make a positive and direct impact, please reach out so we may personally introduce you to Mt. Carmel.
Finally, on behalf of the entire Mt. Carmel family, we wish you and yours a Happy Thanksgiving!
By Col. Bob McLaughlin, U.S. Army, Retired
Chief Operating Officer
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Notes from Those We Serve
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Justin Hart served in the Unites States Army from 2000-2004. After four years of honorable service, Justin took a job as a contractor on Fort Carson for one year. Upon completion of that contract position, and to be able to continue to support his family, Justin took a job at the Colorado Springs Airport loading bags into airplanes. He worked in that job for 10 years before a friend told him about Mt. Carmel's Transition and Employment services available to him as a veteran.
At his first appointment with Transition and Employment, his Peer Navigator asked him what his dream job was. Since he was a small child, Justin dreamed of being in media, so he told them he wanted to work in radio or television. Never in his wildest dreams did he image that telling his Peer Navigator about that dream job would lead to an internship, and eventually a position, with KRDO doing news updates during a nationally syndicated radio show on weekdays.
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Mt. Carmel's annual holiday tradition, Operation TURKEYS FOR TROOPS, ended in record time on November 21 as 200 Thanksgiving baskets were distributed in less than 30 minutes to members of the military and veteran community. Earlier in the day, 100 food baskets were set aside for presentation to Gold Star Families who lost a family member in combat service to the nation, and an additional 1,200 individual turkeys were provided to chaplains and first sergeants for distribution to families on local military installations.
“We're grateful for the support of generous community partners, donors and volunteers who have ensured Thanksgiving celebrations for 1,500 military and veteran families of the Pikes Peak region. We wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving," said Retired Army Col. Bob McLaughlin, Mt. Carmel Chief Operating Officer. This marks the third year Mt. Carmel has conducted Operation TURKEYS FOR TROOPS.
Beyond Operation TURKEYS FOR TROOPS, Mt. Carmel and its partners provide food and beverages year-round to returning soldiers at the Fort Carson Special Events Center. Mt. Carmel also partners with base chaplains and local organizations supporting military widows and wounded warriors to provide food assistance vouchers and more, as needed, throughout the year.
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This inaugural event was a fun time and great success! Our guest speaker was the Colorado Springs Fire Chief, Ted Collas, and the headlining band was Exit West. Additional speakers that night were Jason Pollata, a Mt. Carmel client who delivered his moving testimony, and Theresa Keefer, the CEO of Military Matters Ketamine Clinic, who was our Marshall (top) sponsor that evening. Event attendance was about 325, and we expect the final fundraising to hit $35,000!
Thanks to everyone who supported this special event!
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We're Ready for the Season of Giving! Are You?
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Collection boxes are in our lobby and ready for Toys for Tots, 4KidzSports and non-perishable food donations! In 2018, generous donations from community organizations and military unit collection efforts made Mt. Carmel the largest Toys for Tots collection site in the Pikes Peak region. Toys for Tots requests new, unwrapped toys for infants, children and teens.
Mt. Carmel is also a collection site for 4KidzSports, a local non-profit that provides gently-used sports gear to help youth advance their lives through their faith and participation in sports, music, the arts, academics, and leadership training.
Finally, Mt. Carmel collects non-perishable foods year-round to provide a hand-up to veterans and their families in need.
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Military Matters is a company dedicated to assisting military veterans and their families get their lives back.
PTSD and depression are debilitating. Let Military Matters be your answer to renewing your life.
They are here to serve YOU.
What they can help with:
- Suicidality
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Depression
- Neuro-Pathic Pain (including CRPS, RSD and Fibromyalgia)
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
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The 2nd Annual Santa Fest will be a FREE event for the public. FREE pictures with Santa and vendors will be selling amazing gift ideas.
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Mt. Carmel is honored to be part of IndyGive! We're a featured nonprofit organization highlighted in the community's largest annual giving event, ongoing until December 31.
Mt. Carmel makes a difference and directly helps military, veterans and their families.
"My transition out of the service brought me to Mt. Carmel. It’s a trusting and warm environment and the information your team constantly provided in person and over email is job seeker gold! I've recommended Mt. Carmel and I'll continue to do so.”” — Kemi
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Are You Listening to the Award-Winning Veterans Voice?
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The Mt. Carmel Veterans Voice Podcast was awarded first place at the Colorado Broadcaster Association Awards of Excellence on April 12 in the Best Use of New Media Category! The bi-monthly radio show is a podcast broadcast on KRDO Radio. Veterans Voice is hosted by KRDO personality and Navy veteran, Mike Lewis, and is presented by USAA in partnership with Star Dental Institute.
Follow the link to listen:
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King Soopers Community Rewards Help Veterans
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SPREAD THE WORD
:
Help Veterans just by using your King Soopers or City Market card
- after you select us online (in just a few clicks)…and there is no impact to your fuel points.
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Shopping for a Meaningful Gift this Holiday Season?
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Honor a loved one or show your support of a veteran friend or family member by purchasing a brick or paver, featured as part of our Veterans Tribute Walkway on the Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center campus.
The proceeds are used to continue providing our essential veterans services. Bricks range from $175 - $200; Pavers from $750 - $850. They can even be personalized with military emblems.
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To order your brick or paver,
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As you start your holiday shopping, please consider
Same products, same prices, same service.
Simply choose Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center as the
charity of your choice
, and Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible
AmazonSmile
purchases to help veterans, military
and their families. It's that easy!
Shop for everyone on your gift list this
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Closed for Thanksgiving - Happy Thanksgiving!
November 28 & 29
Courage to Change
Tuesdays, 10 am - noon (ends December 31)
Spiritual Connection Group
Tuesdays, Noon - 1 pm
Veteran-X PTS-focused Group
Tuesdays, 4:30 - 6:30 pm
Yoga, PT/Trauma Relief-focus
Tuesdays, 5 - 6 pm
Warriors First
Wednesdays, 4 - 5 pm
Art Therapy - promoting stress relief and self-healing
Wednesdays, 5 - 7 pm
Pointman Ministries
Wednesdays, 6 - 8 pm
PTS Support Group
Thursdays, 9 - 10 am
Pre-registration required: (719) 772-7000
PTS Support Group
Thursdays, 10 - 11 am
Pre-registration required: (719) 772-7000
Writing Workshop
Thursdays, 4 - 6 pm
Therapeutic/Trauma Focus Tai Chi
Saturdays, 10-11 am
VetTech & Resource Presentation
December 2
Quilts of Valor Awarding
December 2, 9 - 11 am
Spiritual Coverage
December 2, 10 am - 2 pm
Cooking Matters
December 2, 5:30 - 7:30 pm
Yoga, PT/Trauma Relief-focus
Tuesdays, 5 - 6 pm
Employer Day
December 4, 11 am - 3 pm
Veteran Medicare Seminar
December 4, 2 - 3 pm
MOMS Club International
December 6, 10 - 11 am
Cooking Matters
December 9, 5:30 - 7:30 pm (last class)
Acupuncture
December 10, 6:15 - 8:15 pm
Employer Day: Chemical Depot
December 11, 9:30 am - 2 pm
Honor Flight
December 11, 9 - 11 am
Santa Fest
Saturday, December 14, 11 am - 3 pm
Santa's Stockings
December 15, 7 am - 3 pm
God's Knuckleheads
December 20, 11 am - 2 pm
Closed for Christmas - Merry Christmas!
December 25 & 26
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