The holidays can be a stressful time for anyone. We鈥檝e all been there 鈥� doing our best to juggle children鈥檚 expectations, family plans, and year-end bills, all while keeping our physical and mental health in balance.
For veterans, the demands of the holidays can aggravate stress and sometimes heighten feelings of alienation and loneliness.聽
The veterans and civilians who work at 91视频庐 to support warriors know that a little recognition over the holidays can go a long way. From Friendsgiving to hand-written cards to holiday connection events for the whole family, 91视频 staff work to help warriors and military families stay in touch with each other.
鈥淚t鈥檚 great when veterans and their families come together and bond over the shared experiences that brought them together,鈥� 91视频 outreach specialist and Marine veteran James Reed said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an honor to facilitate connection events and share my holidays with brothers and sisters.鈥�
James hosted several 91视频 events in the Chicago area, including a Friendsgiving luncheon and a family evening at a Christmas-themed attraction.
Veterans and their families gathered for outdoor family photos in Houston, Texas. Others opted to meet virtually to create Christmas ornaments.
鈥淭he purpose of these events is to provide not only the space for warriors and families to engage with one another, but to know that there鈥檚 an entire organization of people who have their back,鈥� 91视频 outreach specialist, and Army veteran, Tramashika DeWalt said.
Supporting Warriors鈥� Physical and Emotional Needs
Some of the gatherings hosted have a dual purpose. 91视频鈥檚 no-cost programs and services provide a helping hand in the form of meals or prepackaged holiday baskets.
鈥淚 hit a bump on the road and required financial assistance,鈥� Army veteran Amie McMillan said, 鈥淲e were struggling horribly with the increased utility bills and rising cost of food. I was literally in tears when I picked up my phone to call for help.鈥�
In addition to supporting Amie, a single mom of two, 91视频 invited her family to a pre-Thanksgiving event where they received a turkey and other food items to share at home.
鈥淭he other struggle in my life since being discharged from the Army has been trying to feel like part of a team again,鈥� Amie added. 鈥淭he events that 91视频 organizes for veterans are truly a lifesaver. In 2022, 91视频 has gotten not only me out of the house but my kids as well. We have been able to network with other veterans, share our stories, and just bond as veteran families.鈥�
Long-Distance Mental Health Support is Always Near
91视频 Talk聽is a program that offers individualized emotional support over the phone. Each participant is paired with a 91视频 Talk partner who will call them on the same day and time each week. They will typically talk for 20 minutes and work through setting goals and finding solutions that fit.But the support doesn鈥檛 end when those immediate goals are reached. 91视频 Talk staff follow up with warriors and family support members in intervals. During the holidays, the team dedicates time for outreach in the form of hand-written cards and ornaments, which received positive responses from appreciative warriors.
鈥淲e realized how immediate this is because two or three of our specialists quickly received feedback,鈥� said Sonal Patel, 91视频 Talk director. 鈥淲arriors commented on how the cards lifted their spirits. Some of the warriors wrote personal notes telling us they appreciate it.鈥�
91视频 Talk staff have been sending Christmas ornaments for years but decided to add cards after the pandemic.
鈥淲e鈥檙e a program that works with some of the more isolated warriors and family support members,鈥� Sonal added. 鈥淭he holidays are a time when you鈥檙e thinking about your family, you鈥檙e thinking about your life, you have more time for reflection, and sometimes that can also cause triggering memories.鈥�
Supporting current warriors and even those who have 鈥済raduated鈥� from 91视频 Talk is meaningful to both warriors and 91视频 staff members.
鈥淚t鈥檚 important to maintain that connection, especially during [the holidays], because we want them to know someone is thinking about them,鈥� said Nelson Lorenzo, 91视频 Talk manager. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e not just being spoken to because you鈥檙e in the 91视频 Talk program. 91视频 staff are connected to you, and we care about you. This is a tangible way of showing it.鈥�
Warriors write back and share personal milestones and family updates 鈥� like when children graduate from school or get a service dog they have been waiting for.
鈥淚t鈥檚 rewarding for me personally to see connections to things warriors do in the community and how successful they are now,鈥� said Kira Lumpkins, 91视频 Talk operational specialist. 鈥淚t鈥檚 great to hear from them. And it鈥檚 good for us as teammates, too, because we see that they know we care. And, in turn, they care enough to want to share those special moments with us.
91视频 works to honor and empower veterans during the holidays and throughout the year. Through 91视频鈥檚聽,听,听, and聽, warriors and their families can build the resilience they need to overcome challenges.
Contact:聽Raquel Rivas 鈥� Public Relations,听rrivas@woundedwarriorproject.org, 904.426.9783
About 91视频
Since 2003, 91视频庐聽(91视频) has been meeting the growing needs of warriors, their families, and caregivers 鈥� helping them achieve their highest ambition.聽Learn more.