Arizona Veterans Helping Veterans
Donation protected
“Mitigating veteran suicide isn’t going to happen overnight, and it’s not going to happen in cloistered, smoke filled buildings, or parades. We have to work in solidarity—veterans and civilians—with no less determination than our fight against terror.”
—James Eyler, president AZVHV
Arizona Veterans Helping Veterans (AZVHV) is a non-profit organization that understands the hardships veterans face. We know what it’s like to come home after having served in combat; what it’s like to cope after our service has ended. We know because we have been there ourselves. AZVHV is committed to reintegrating veterans back into society once their service is ended, and to help mitigate veteran suicide. Many service members deal with unique stresses that most people will, thankfully, never have to endure. Because of that, many veterans feel alone, even in the middle of a crowd. Reentering society can feel overwhelming, often exacerbating the feelings of isolation. AZVHV is dedicated to helping veterans through those difficult moments. As seen in the media, even the Department of Veterans Affairs is unable to meet the demand of our injured and traumatized service members; while other, well-established non-profit organizations that started with the best of intentions have fallen by the wayside. It is important, now more than ever, to provide effective services for our veterans, bridging all gaps to include all veterans, from every war and peacetime. AZVHV will provide such services (e.g., charitable undertakings, job placement, PTSD education and assistance, metalworking shop, library, sound recording studio, various hobby rooms, workout equipment).
Our ultimate goal is to establish a Veterans Wellness Center, which will operate on the front lines of effective reintegration and veteran suicide prevention. Our programs will be centralized at the Wellness Centers. We believe that effective reintegration and suicide prevention can only happen with veterans and civilians working in solidarity. In order to help provide such solidarity, AZVHV will also establish smaller, community hubs throughout the area. These hubs will act as satellites for AZVHV to launch community service initiatives and outreach programs that help veterans to strengthen their lives and their communities; open mic to help upcoming local artists, comedy, live music, poetry, club meetings (e.g. ASU Astronomy Club, MCC Philosophy Club), veteran group meetings (e.g., In-Country Vietnam Veterans, VFW, American Legion, Vietnam Veterans, DAV, etc.). The hubs will also provide job-training opportunities and workforce development, especially to help veterans reintegrate to society and work side-by-side with non-veterans.
With the help of AZVHV staff and volunteers, veterans will be able to organize their own community outreach events to help fight veteran suicide, as well as help themselves at the same time. By actively getting veterans involved with, and taking the lead in community outreach events, AZVHV effectively promotes positive responsibilities that will help strengthen veterans personal resolve to “keep up the good fight”. It gives veterans and supporting non-veterans the opportunity to accomplish something meaningful and worthwhile—an aspect of life many veterans feel they will never experience again after leaving service. AZVHV fights veteran suicide and helps veterans reintegrate to society by giving them an active roll and responsibility within their communities.
—James Eyler, president AZVHV
Arizona Veterans Helping Veterans (AZVHV) is a non-profit organization that understands the hardships veterans face. We know what it’s like to come home after having served in combat; what it’s like to cope after our service has ended. We know because we have been there ourselves. AZVHV is committed to reintegrating veterans back into society once their service is ended, and to help mitigate veteran suicide. Many service members deal with unique stresses that most people will, thankfully, never have to endure. Because of that, many veterans feel alone, even in the middle of a crowd. Reentering society can feel overwhelming, often exacerbating the feelings of isolation. AZVHV is dedicated to helping veterans through those difficult moments. As seen in the media, even the Department of Veterans Affairs is unable to meet the demand of our injured and traumatized service members; while other, well-established non-profit organizations that started with the best of intentions have fallen by the wayside. It is important, now more than ever, to provide effective services for our veterans, bridging all gaps to include all veterans, from every war and peacetime. AZVHV will provide such services (e.g., charitable undertakings, job placement, PTSD education and assistance, metalworking shop, library, sound recording studio, various hobby rooms, workout equipment).
Our ultimate goal is to establish a Veterans Wellness Center, which will operate on the front lines of effective reintegration and veteran suicide prevention. Our programs will be centralized at the Wellness Centers. We believe that effective reintegration and suicide prevention can only happen with veterans and civilians working in solidarity. In order to help provide such solidarity, AZVHV will also establish smaller, community hubs throughout the area. These hubs will act as satellites for AZVHV to launch community service initiatives and outreach programs that help veterans to strengthen their lives and their communities; open mic to help upcoming local artists, comedy, live music, poetry, club meetings (e.g. ASU Astronomy Club, MCC Philosophy Club), veteran group meetings (e.g., In-Country Vietnam Veterans, VFW, American Legion, Vietnam Veterans, DAV, etc.). The hubs will also provide job-training opportunities and workforce development, especially to help veterans reintegrate to society and work side-by-side with non-veterans.
With the help of AZVHV staff and volunteers, veterans will be able to organize their own community outreach events to help fight veteran suicide, as well as help themselves at the same time. By actively getting veterans involved with, and taking the lead in community outreach events, AZVHV effectively promotes positive responsibilities that will help strengthen veterans personal resolve to “keep up the good fight”. It gives veterans and supporting non-veterans the opportunity to accomplish something meaningful and worthwhile—an aspect of life many veterans feel they will never experience again after leaving service. AZVHV fights veteran suicide and helps veterans reintegrate to society by giving them an active roll and responsibility within their communities.
Organizer
Jim Eyler
Organizer
Mesa, AZ
