Collier County Veterans Council "Honoring All Who Served"
Collier County Veterans Council"Honoring All Who Served"

Support for Servicemen comes in many forms. Consider these charities when reaching out to veterans.

 

 

Dozens of charities have risen in the wake of starting the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Tens of thousands of Servicemen from America and its coalition of the willing have been severely injured by combat.  It comes at great expense to the military hospitals as well as the victims.  Once Servicemen are medically discharged or retired, the costs of care and recovery are overwhelming.  Veterans often have no means to pay for all their needs once they are civilians.  The following list includes groups that improve Servicemen's severely injured quality of life.  They live up to our philosophy of "Service before Self".  

 

1.  Hope For The Warriors          

2.  Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America

3.  United Service Organization        

4.  Navy Marine Corps Relief Society

5.  Wounded Warriors Family Support   

6.  Puppies Behind Bars

7.  Homes For Our Troops

8.  Thanks USA

9.  Disabled American Veterans Charitable Service Trust

10. Fisher House Foundation

11. Veterans Outdoor Advocacy Group

12. Collier County Veterans Council!

VA strengthens Caregiver Support Program and expands timeline of the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers 

Today the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced actions to strengthen the Caregiver Support Program and establish a timeline for expanding the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) in accordance with section 161 of the VA MISSION Act of 2018 (MISSION Act). Under the MISSION Act, VA will expand the PCAFC to eligible Veterans from all eras using a phased approach. Currently, the program is only available to eligible Veterans seriously injured in the line of duty on or after September 11, 2001.  To learn more about the many support services available for caregivers of Veterans, visit www.caregiver.va.gov or call the Caregiver Support Line at 1-855-260-3274. 

 OUTDOOR THERAPY

 

"Studies have shown—and veterans organizations strongly concur—that outdoor recreational activities can provide powerful therapeutic and healing benefits as well as camaraderie for veterans struggling with combat-related injuries or post-traumatic stress," said Smith in a statement. "We should be thinking outside-the-box to discover as many ways as possible to help veterans, and opening up federal lands and removing barriers to access for remedial outdoor recreation is a no-brainer. My legislation would help increase access to this treatment option."

 

Naples already organizes fishing trips for veterans throught the Take A Soldier Fishing group. Contact them to join a boat for the day. Become a captain and share your backwater fishing boat to introduce saltwater fly fishing with conventional baitcasting fishermen. Learn more about saltwater fly fishing through the local club, Backcountry Fly Fishers.

Several organizations have risen to the challenge of caring for veterans after seeing so many fall through the cracks.

Empathetic young men have invented treatments for struggling veterans who carry the scars of war with them every day.  Private companies have stepped forward help veterans where the VA, public services, and private doctors have come up short.  They address different issues, but the esprit de corps remains the same.  Groups trying to pick up the pieces of shattered lives include:

 

The Raider Project

22 Kill

Gallant Few

Hooves For Heroes

The Darby Project

Silkies Hike

The Oscar Mike Foundation

Save22veterans 

Operations Strides

 

 

 

Georgia Aquarium's Veteran Immersion Program

Georgia Aquarium is committed to serving the brave men and women, active and retired, who have served us. As a thank you for their incredible service, Georgia Aquarium developed the Veterans Immersion Program in 2008 as a way to support the wounded heroes in our armed forces.

http://georgiaaquariumblog.org/dive-team/2014/7/2/veteran-immersion-program.html

The Veterans Council & American Red Cross Care Package Program

The Veterans Council of Collier County & the American Red Cross of Collier County are working together to support the needs of our soldiers overseas. The Red Cross will send our Care Packages to individuals in the military through their system, which is quicker and better than send them through regular mail. Several of our local churches and civic groups already have programs in place to start assembling these Care Packages, we just need names & addresses of soldiers to send them to.
 

Typical Care Packages will include:
 

• Stationery (Letter Paper & Envelopes)
• Stamps
• Batteries
• Pens & Pencils
• Disposable Razors
• Matches
• Playing Cards
• Deodorant
• Toothbrushes & Toothpaste
• Baby Wipes / Cleaning Wipes
• Clearasil / Stridex Pads
• Rolaids
• Hard Candies
• Coffee and Hot Chocolate Pouches

 

You can also mail your donation to:

Veterans Council of Collier County

Attn: Chief William Carl, President

527 107th Ave N

Naples, FL 34108

Please make checks payable to the "Collier County Veterans Council" .
 

Veterans verify their service to employers and agencies. 

Government agencies and non-profits, such as the Department of Veterans Affairs and U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Hiring Our Heroes initiative use ID.me to enhance individual access to benefits and services and prevent fraud through strong identity verification services.

Over 400 of your favorite brands, such as Under Armour, SeaWorld and Verizon, use ID.me’s verification technology to offer exclusive discounts to members of the following communities: Military, Students, First Responders, Teachers and Government Employees.

Dept. of Veterans Affairs is preparing a plan to address veteran suicide

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the White House Domestic Policy Council hosted an iinnovation summit Sept. 23 as part of The President’s Roadmap to Empower Veterans and End the National Tragedy of Suicide (PREVENTS) task force. The summit brought together more than 100 leading researchers, clinicians, innovators and decision makers to discuss research on public health solutions to end Veteran suicide. The interagency group is charged with implementing a roadmap for Veteran suicide prevention at the national and community levels by March 2020. “Collaboration and research are integral parts of VA’s public health approach to suicide prevention,” said VA Secretary Robert Wilkie. “The work of the PREVENTS task force, like this summit, move us closer to solving the problems that lead to suicide and ultimately finding an end to Veteran suicide.” Held during Suicide Prevention Month, the summit provided a unique opportunity for public and private sector collaboration — to research and explore innovative ways to reach Veterans in crisis — and provide them with support in their communities. A request for information that went out in August generated a wealth of ideas and elicited new insights for developing a national research strategy to end Veteran suicide. Those results will be compiled into action items as part of President Donald Trump’s March 5, Executive Order establishing the PREVENTS task force in June. Suicide is a complex national public health issue that affects communities nationwide, with more than 45,000 Americans — including more than 6,000 Veterans — dying by suicide every year. The summit strengthened public-private partnerships that will identify gaps in the current suicide research environment and implement ideas to fill them. Veterans who are in crisis or having thoughts of suicide, and those who know a Veteran in crisis, can call the Veterans Crisis Line for confidential support available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Call 800-273-8255 and Press 1, text to 838255 or chat online at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat.

Transitioning from our military careers to the civilian world is a struggle for many.  The nightmares of combat have lingering and withering effects.  The first peer-reviewed and published national study of civic service among U.S. vets who served in Iraq and/or Afghanistan found volunteering improved their health and social life.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/02/170202141318.htm

11 Free Programs to Help Veterans Succeed as Entrepreneurs

Veteran-owned businesses are an important engine of economic growth. New research from Experian has found that veterans tend to own and operate business with a larger employee base, and veteran-owned businesses have better longevity and sustainability than non veteran-owned business. (Experian analyzed and compared the credit data of veteran-owned businesses and non-veteran-owned businesses from 2015 through July 2019.) 

Nearly 25% of veterans express interest in starting a business. That’s the good news. The bad news is entrepreneurship among younger veterans is on the decline. A report by Bunker Labs suggests one way to foster veteran entrepreneurship is through an “ecosystem” approach: “Taking an ecosystem approach to facilitating entrepreneurship requires ensuring that there is relationship density, strong network effects, and connected resources for entrepreneurs.” 

Where to Find Us:

The Veterans Council of Collier County is the umbrella organization of the 20 veterans groups that exist in Collier County, Florida.
 

The Veterans Council is comprised of representatives from each group and meets the 3rd Thursday of each month.

 

We bring all groups together for networking and fellowship in an otherwise fragmented community.  We each have our allegiances, but are fighting the same battle.  United we stand.

Meetings are open to all veterans.

 

CCVC Board of Directors

 

Chief William Carl, USCG

(President)

239.370.5428 

WCARL1722@aol.com

 

Alexander Leoni, USMC

(Vice President)

 

Chief Darnell Johnson

(Chaplain)

 

Stanley Bunner,USN

(Safety Officer)

 

Larry Lathrop, USMC

(Treasurer)

 

Frank Kerr, USA

 (Sergeant at Arms)

 

Jason Lindsey, USMC

(Operations Officer)

 

Vidal Sanchez, USMC

(Operations Assistant)

______________

Stormie Pruskauer

(Secretary)

Joan Mary Madonna

(Assisstant Secretary)

 

 

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Contributions

The Veterans Council enjoys the generous financial support of its contributors.  If your organization would like support the Veterans Council and its four public patriotic ceremonies, please mail your annual $50 donation to: 

Collier County Veterans Council

527 107th Ave N

Naples, FL 34108

 

 

 If you would like to publicly introduce yourself to the Board of Directors and their gallery of patriots, please contact us to have your name placed on the upcoming meeting agenda.  

 

 

Veteran Suicide Prevention

If you, or a veteran you know, may be thinking of contemplating suicide please call The Veterans Crisis Hotline at:

1-800-273-8255 and Press 1

or go to their website at:

Veteranscrisisline.net

 

Helpful Suicide education is also provided here.

 

"In all you do, do with all your might. Things done by half measures are never done right."

 

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