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We all keep talking about Veterans being homeless and committing suicide but are we willing to help? Here is the idea. Leadership set up a non profit 501c account name it anything "Veterans supporting Veterans" as an example. This community has over 300k members, create a "GoFundMe" or "PayPal" account and ask each one of us to donate a simple $5.00 to the cause and if all contributed you would have $1,500,000.00. Have a board or voting process and allocate funds to help our brothers and sisters. What do you all think?
Homeless
Suicide
Help
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 7
While the idea is good, the question I have is why stand up another nonprofit when there are already a bunch out there working within this field? As someone who has started and grown a NPO, I can tell you that entering into a space already flooded by others is not good. While we all should look after our brothers and sisters-in-arms that find themselves in the middle of winter sleeping under bridges, in parks, or where ever they can find a place, to actually run an effective program is very time consuming. I don't believe RallyPoint should mission creep and lose it's focus on it's mission of providing a place for Veterans and Service Members to come and share ideas and work together regardless of the distance between.
The better path of action would be to find an existing non-profit that works within that area and do a fundraiser for them.
The better path of action would be to find an existing non-profit that works within that area and do a fundraiser for them.
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LTC Stephen Kubiszewski
Yes,yes! We already have over 45k non-profit vet focused "entities" and no accountability. Why do we refuse to promote more locally based and supported support options, I.e. Like a vet watch system promoted by United Way or some other organization already fully funded???
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CW4 (Join to see)
SGT Keen - I just don't trust every NPO that claims to support veterans. I simply do not have time to always scrutinize annual report with admin and distribution costs, if they are available in the first place. Understand your position on mission creep but I think the concept of creating RP account should be seriously considered. If powers puling the strings come out and explain why this would not work I would accept it without a problem. However I want more than one competent person with authority (like your four stars) to give it a serious thought.
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SSG Ray Strenkowski
Along those lines - why not leverage our community to raise funds to be donated en-mass to a group or groups each year.
I think that would both benefit the charities that RallyPoint selects and show the significance of our community. If RallyPoint were donating large sums each year to groups we would generate significant influence and provide a platform for our voice.
I think that would both benefit the charities that RallyPoint selects and show the significance of our community. If RallyPoint were donating large sums each year to groups we would generate significant influence and provide a platform for our voice.
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SSG Carlos Madden
COL Mikel J. Burroughs - SGT Ben Keen kind of hits the nail on the head, there's no reason to duplicate efforts. Talking to other VSO's, we're oversaturated with veterans charity organizing which means it sometimes does more harm than good. The other thing is that we're not specialized in charity work, outreach or fundraising in this capacity, so problems are bound to occur. The best thing would be for us to partner and augment an existing organization that is reputable for getting the most "bang for its buck" in this field.
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COL Mikel J. Burroughs
PO3 Brad Phlipot and CW4 (Join to see) See information from SSG Carlos Madden and SGT Ben Keen - they provide some very good points and perspective. Thanks both of you for your insight!
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CW4 (Join to see)
SSG Carlos Madden - Understood. Good explanation was all I needed. I will find and support any other effort locally. Thank you.
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PO3 Brad Phlipot
SSG Carlos Madden - Agree, what I had hoped to convey was the donation piece of this. RP could as a community be a power house and these funds could be contributed to National organizations with an established track record, not organizations that take 15% for "Overhead" costs but where the money goes directly to care of our wounded and injured.
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We should ttake a harder look at how combat/military service members are transition into civilian life.
I think we need to start identifying the reasons why we have homeless and suicides of veterans.
My thought are it might be good to have a mandatory participation program at local Vet centers
They could act as a bridge for service related medical issues most VA hospitals have domiciles.
We have a VA Center that I have been going to PTSD group since it opened near Fort Hood.
Some of my worst time outside combat was performing Traffic Accident Investigations with fatalities which involved teenagers
I think we need to start identifying the reasons why we have homeless and suicides of veterans.
My thought are it might be good to have a mandatory participation program at local Vet centers
They could act as a bridge for service related medical issues most VA hospitals have domiciles.
We have a VA Center that I have been going to PTSD group since it opened near Fort Hood.
Some of my worst time outside combat was performing Traffic Accident Investigations with fatalities which involved teenagers
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