RallyPoint community shares stories of service during VetServe 2022

RallyPoint Shared Content — Wed, 04 May 2022 13:17:23 -0400

The RallyPoint community turned out by the thousands online to celebrate the VetServe 2022 National Day of Service on April 21 and share in inspiring stories of Veteran volunteerism.

Leading up to that day, RallyPoint and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hosted an open forum where you could contribute how you lift up Veterans and fellow Americans. Veterans responded from around the country, and more than 235,000 members — and counting — have viewed the stories (https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/vetserve-2022-share-your-service-success-stories-below).

The page also links to the VetServe Volunteer Directory, which lists more organizations where you can volunteer. (Find others here: https://www.rallypoint.com/command-post/national-volunteer-month-explore-the-benefits-of-giving-back-to-these-14-military-and-veteran-friendly-nonprofits.)

Here are some notable RallyPoint stories of service from the VetServe 2022 forum, which remains open to your posts about how volunteering benefits you and your fellow Veterans:

Hospice care

A retired lieutenant colonel who served in the Army for 24 years, including in Vietnam, said at age 78 he is humbled to volunteer to visit with Veterans undergoing care a local hospice organization.

“For some of those that I have met,” he said, “having a chance at the end of their lives to relate their service experience to a fellow Veteran seems to meet a real need. For me, it is a humbling experience to be helping fellow Veterans, some of whom are younger than I am but facing the ultimate challenge.”

A retired signal officer who volunteers at Heartland Hospice said he is able to connect with Veteran patients in a way that their non-Veteran nurses and doctors can’t. He said some Veterans who talk with him about their service seem to let go of long-held emotional scars or feelings of shame.

At other times, this Veteran said, he can serve as a bridge to the Veteran’s family, sharing a side of their loved one that they may not have known. A few families have asked the Veteran volunteer to provide the final salute at their Veteran’s end-of-life services.

“Words cannot describe how much this simple gesture of respect means (to) the Veteran’s family and friends,” he said on the VetServe forum. “I strongly encourage all my fellow Veterans to volunteer to meet with our fellow brothers and sisters in arms in hospice care.”

Community service

Other Veterans described their service to their churches and community. One Veteran volunteers with his church’s hot meals ministry, assembling COVID-19 food boxes. Another Veteran has served since 1998 as a volunteer church usher and greeter and since 1990 as a preschool teacher. Many other Veterans on the VetServe forum said they volunteered over the years at local American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars posts.

After retiring, one former chief petty officer decided to volunteer once a week for her area Habitat ReStores, which is part of a network of independently owned retail stores operated by local Habitats for Humanity. Not to be outdone, this Veteran said she is also taking “intense training” to become a volunteer with SHIP: State Health Insurance Assistance Program (https://www.shiphelp.org/about-us), an organization that provides insurance counseling to Medicare-eligible individuals, families and caregivers.

Mental health

Dianne Young, Marine Corps Veteran and president of the Starfish Foundation, said she has volunteered with Milwaukee-based Healing Warrior Hearts since being referred to the Veteran retreat organization six years ago for help with service-related anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.

“That retreat in 2016 was so transformational that I have now been a volunteer staff member, supervisor or instructor for over 70 retreats,” Young said. As president of the Starfish Foundation, Young said she raises funds to produce the retreats. Her volunteer work, she said, has become her “life mission.”

Young encouraged other Veterans to email her at [login to see] to learn about taking part in a retreat either as a volunteer or as a participant. Details about the organizations are at https://www.healingwarriorhearts.org and at https://www.starfishfound.org.

Political service

Another Veteran who ran and won office four years ago as a New Hampshire state representative said they are serving Veterans through the political system. Among other legislation, the Veteran helped pass a law that gives the children of 100% service-disabled Veterans tuition-free education at all state and community colleges.

“(M)y advice is to be the change you want to see,” the Veteran said. “Get involved, make a plan and see it through.”

Red Cross volunteers

Several Veterans reported volunteering at local chapters of the American Red Cross on Disaster Action Teams and through other programs. Learn more about becoming a Red Cross volunteer at https://www.redcross.org/volunteer/become-a-volunteer.html#step1.

Service member rights

One Army Veteran has for 12 years volunteered for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a U.S. Department of Defense program that informs employers of the rights of those who serve in the National Guard and reserves.

Added the Veteran: “Please go to ESGR.mil (https://esgr.mil) and use the state committee tab to find your state and make contact if interested in becoming an ESGR member.”

Learn more

Read and share more service stories: https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/vetserve-2022-share-your-service-success-stories-below

Read “National Volunteer Month: Explore the benefits of giving back to these 14 military and Veteran-friendly nonprofits”: https://www.rallypoint.com/command-post/national-volunteer-month-explore-the-benefits-of-giving-back-to-these-14-military-and-veteran-friendly-nonprofits

Find volunteer opportunities at the VetServe Volunteer Directory: https://www.rallypoint.com/static_pages/VetServe_2022

RallyPoint

Response by Lt Col Charlie Brown made May 4 at 2022 1:22 PM

Lt Col Charlie Brown — Wed, 04 May 2022 13:22:55 -0400

The Red Cross has posted information on LinkedIn about four Red Crossers with various military connections

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made May 4 at 2022 1:23 PM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Wed, 04 May 2022 13:23:08 -0400

Excellent share RallyPoint Shared Content

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made May 6 at 2022 12:34 AM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Fri, 06 May 2022 00:34:15 -0400

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made May 9 at 2022 10:19 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Mon, 09 May 2022 22:19:43 -0400

I want to know who decides who is a volunteer who helps the veteran community? What is the definition of a volunteer?

Response by SGT Wayne Dunn made May 20 at 2022 11:04 AM

SGT Wayne Dunn — Fri, 20 May 2022 11:04:00 -0400

Good Job

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Jul 29 at 2022 11:23 AM

SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL — Fri, 29 Jul 2022 11:23:27 -0400

Thanks for sharing.

Response by SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM made Oct 15 at 2022 8:41 PM

SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM — Sat, 15 Oct 2022 20:41:33 -0400

This is a valuable program for Veterans. You might want to see if someone in your familily could provide care as you age!