RallyPoint Community has anyone suggested this?

PO3 Brad Phlipot — Tue, 08 Dec 2015 17:56:47 -0500

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?

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 8 at 2015 6:12 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 08 Dec 2015 18:12:24 -0500

I like the idea. Great start for the initial. But, what about funding to keep things going? Some Vets just want to put the past behind them and turn a blind eye. Many civilians already turn a blind eye to this problem.

Response by COL Mikel J. Burroughs made Dec 8 at 2015 6:12 PM

COL Mikel J. Burroughs — Tue, 08 Dec 2015 18:12:45 -0500

PO3 Brad Phlipot Great idea!

Response by SGM David W. Carr LOM, DMSM MP SGT made Dec 8 at 2015 6:36 PM

SGM David W. Carr LOM, DMSM MP SGT — Tue, 08 Dec 2015 18:36:19 -0500

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

Response by SFC Mike Edwards made Dec 8 at 2015 10:15 PM

SFC Mike Edwards — Tue, 08 Dec 2015 22:15:47 -0500

Bright idea. You should take the lead on this and make it happen, Amen.

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Dec 9 at 2015 7:50 AM

SGT Ben Keen — Wed, 09 Dec 2015 07:50:03 -0500

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.

Response by SGT Patrick Reno made Dec 16 at 2015 3:44 PM

SGT Patrick Reno — Wed, 16 Dec 2015 15:44:53 -0500

That is a great idea.

Response by SSG Audwin Scott made Dec 16 at 2015 4:06 PM

SSG Audwin Scott — Wed, 16 Dec 2015 16:06:12 -0500

Yes this does sound like a great idea!