Hi, I’m Christine Ree, Executive Director for Restore 22, a nonprofit organization committed to preventing the 22 veteran suicides that happen every day in the U.S. I'm excited to share that after 2.5 years of raising funds, we are very close to opening our brick-and-mortar nonprofit coffee shop. Donations to this campaign will bring us over the finish line.

OUR STORY

Restore 22 stems from my husband's and my experience with his deployment to Iraq. Rob is a retired Air Force veteran with 33 years of service. His final role was being a First Sergeant at the 911th Air Reserve Station near Pittsburgh, PA. In that position, young airmen would come to him for help with a variety of issues. When they approached him with concerns over their first deployment, Rob felt like a fraud when he tried to reassure them, having not had the opportunity to deploy himself.

In 2010, Rob secured a position to deploy to Iraq as a First Sergeant. He traveled by himself into the unit where he didn't know anyone. He was there for nearly five months. In that time, he experienced and saw things that you and I should never have to encounter. It changed him, and it changed us.

When he returned home, he wasn't the same person. He was angry and distant. He'd lost 30 pounds. We fought all the time. Eventually, he visited a doctor who, after just a brief examination, dismissed our concerns about PTSD and diagnosed him with anxiety and depression. The doctor prescribed a fistful of medications which filled Rob with fear.

Eventually, Rob found a wonderful psychologist who worked with him for about a year. Rob was diagnosed with PTSD, and we learned how to move forward. Those years were very difficult. We learned patience. We learned communication. And we learned how to love in spite of the difficult circumstances. And now, we want to give back to others.

OUR PROJECT

Our goal is to offer a welcoming space where veterans can connect with each other, share experiences, and access vital resources. Just like talking to a counselor helped Rob through his PTSD, we want to provide a safe space where veterans can talk with each other. Many won't seek professional counseling, but they need to talk with someone. Who better than someone who shares similar experiences? We believe veterans can find healing through camaraderie and community.

We have been hosting pop-up coffee shops in the Pittsburgh, PA area, but we recently identified the perfect location for our storefront. Your financial contribution is needed to ensure we can make the necessary building improvements and purchase the needed equipment and furniture.

We want you to know that neither of us is taking a salary from Restore 22. All the money goes to support veterans in Western Pennsylvania through our veteran-focused programs and, eventually, the brick-and-mortar coffee shop.

DONATE TO SAVE A VETERAN'S LIFE

Please join us in making a meaningful impact in the lives of those who have served. Every contribution helps prevent the 22 veteran suicides that happen every day in this country. Will you help us restore our veterans before that becomes an option?