Comfort Walk

The Comfort Walk helps to raise awareness of veterans mental health and suicide issues in the southern New England region of Connecticut and Rhode Island. It also helps to bring attention and funding to the cognitive agro-therapy program for veterans run by former Army Ranger Jon Jackson. On Memorial Day weekend of 2020 Stephen Lewis will walk 70 miles in three days, starting at the Manchester Army-Navy/VFW in Manchester CT and finishing at McBride’s Pub in Providence RI. Along the way Steve will be joined by veterans who will cover individual legs of the walk. Last year he was joined by veterans from the local area as well as from other parts of the US. In 2018 Steve was joined by veterans Russ Collins, Joe Cox, and Eddie Contreras who had conducted the Walk of Life, a trek that covered the length of the United States


The Comfort Walk derives its name from veteran Jon Jackson, who founded Comfort Farms in 2016 in the name of Captain Kyle Comfort, who was his company commander Killed In Action in June 2010. Jon responded to his own mental health crisis by founding the farm, which utilizes a program of cognitive agro-therapy to work with veterans on improving their mental health. The mantra of the farm is “Growth Through Discomfort”. Jon and his farm have received national attention for their work with at risk veterans, and Jon recently received high praise in featured coverage in Civil Eats. Jon will be here to support our efforts. 


This year’s Comfort Walk will be taking place from May 23 to May 25, 2020. Due to the coronavirus shutdown there will be two stages: The first leg begins on May 23rd at the Army-Navy Club and VFW in Manchester, CT and ends late morning at the University of CT Storrs campus. The second leg of day one begins at UConn and ends in the historic Dayville section of Killingly CT.  May 24th will be a recovery day. On Memorial Day May 25th the third and final leg begins at the Comfort Inn in Dayville and ends 30 miles later at McBrides Pub in Providence, RI. The opening ceremony features the presentation of an Honor and Remember flag given to the family of Armondo Serrano, a veteran lost to PTSD, and concludes with a reception at McBride’s in the afternoon following Steve’s arrival. Both ceremonies are anticipated to be virtual at this time.

More information about Stag Vets Inc/Comfort Farms: We promote a structured, holistic approach for displaced veterans suffering from PTSD and other invisible disabilities, aiding their reintegration into family, society, and economy.  Find us online at www.stagvetsinc.org.