Helping Veterans in Crisis
Donation protected
Backstory:
Last Sunday, a Marine who was a friend to countless individuals left this Earth way too soon. Loved by everyone and always a joy to be around, this tragedy hit the hardest because you would have never guessed how much suffering he was going through inside. Just like two of his best friends who passed before him, he kept things bottled up inside and put on a façade that was almost impossible to see through by anyone other than himself. All too often, veterans end up suffering more than they should because they try to tackle all of life's problems on their own and with out help for fear of being seen in a negative way, such as being weak or not "man enough" to handle their own issues.
If you have ever had the opportunity to develop a personal relationship with a veteran, you begin to notice the mountains of problems they face. While everyone is quick to blame lawmakers for these issues, nobody stops to ask themselves if servicemembers are prepared enough to adjust to the civilian lifestyle upon seperation. The only life they have known for years is one of structure and discipline, such as being at work every day on time and avoiding risky behavior. The switch from that lifestyle to one where you have the freedom to make your own choices can be extremely difficult for a lot of veterans. The military holds educational seminars and transition workshops to try and make sure every servicemember is prepared for separating, but nothing can prepare for every situation they might face upon returning to civilian life. As Benjamin Franklin once said, "By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail."
After losing not only a veteran but a great friend this past weekend to a situation that could have possibly be prevented, it has truly opened my eyes as to the lack of help our veterans are receiving. This is why I have created this GoFundMe, and why I truly believe we can help our veterans in times of crisis. I want to create a two part fund that: A) veterans can fall back on if they find themselves in place where they can't see the light at the end of the tunnel, and B) to teach our brave veterans that they don't have to do this alone and offer help. As an Air Force veteran myself, I know firsthand how extremely easy it can be to try and tackle every single problem by yourself for the fear of sounding weak or afraid. A lot of our veterans will hide everything inside of them and try to keep it bottled up, and this isn't good because it can create future headaches and heartbreaks down the road. Suicide rates for both veterans and military members are at astronomical levels, and I feel that if transitioning servicemembers and veterans know they don't have to go through this alone, it would truly make this world a better place.
Why I need your help:
Starting a charity isn't exactly cheap, and unfortunately I just don't have the funds as a full-time college student who works to pay my own way through school. Just to get this memorial charity established, the total fees required add up to $450 which is something I don't exactly have to spend. This amount doesn't include printing handouts, holding seminars, traveling to different support groups, lobbying congress, or even venturing out to nearby rescue centers to help homeless veterans. I am in the process of of getting this fund registered as a 501(c)(3) charity in memory of Drew Cook and Luke Mielke, a former Seaman and a Marine who both suffered from similar issues, so that everything I do will be transparent and governed correctly. I need your help to get this charity registered correctly so that we can begin to change this culture of constant suffering by our veterans. By donating to this cause, I promise that veterans and servicemembers everywhere will be better equipped to deal with things such as opioid-abuse awareness, suicide prevention, how to deal with bill collectors, or anything else that our veterans may face down the road.
If you have any advice at all, please don't hesitate to contact me and let me know. I am open to all ideas that support this cause, and could your expertise and advice.
Last Sunday, a Marine who was a friend to countless individuals left this Earth way too soon. Loved by everyone and always a joy to be around, this tragedy hit the hardest because you would have never guessed how much suffering he was going through inside. Just like two of his best friends who passed before him, he kept things bottled up inside and put on a façade that was almost impossible to see through by anyone other than himself. All too often, veterans end up suffering more than they should because they try to tackle all of life's problems on their own and with out help for fear of being seen in a negative way, such as being weak or not "man enough" to handle their own issues.
If you have ever had the opportunity to develop a personal relationship with a veteran, you begin to notice the mountains of problems they face. While everyone is quick to blame lawmakers for these issues, nobody stops to ask themselves if servicemembers are prepared enough to adjust to the civilian lifestyle upon seperation. The only life they have known for years is one of structure and discipline, such as being at work every day on time and avoiding risky behavior. The switch from that lifestyle to one where you have the freedom to make your own choices can be extremely difficult for a lot of veterans. The military holds educational seminars and transition workshops to try and make sure every servicemember is prepared for separating, but nothing can prepare for every situation they might face upon returning to civilian life. As Benjamin Franklin once said, "By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail."
After losing not only a veteran but a great friend this past weekend to a situation that could have possibly be prevented, it has truly opened my eyes as to the lack of help our veterans are receiving. This is why I have created this GoFundMe, and why I truly believe we can help our veterans in times of crisis. I want to create a two part fund that: A) veterans can fall back on if they find themselves in place where they can't see the light at the end of the tunnel, and B) to teach our brave veterans that they don't have to do this alone and offer help. As an Air Force veteran myself, I know firsthand how extremely easy it can be to try and tackle every single problem by yourself for the fear of sounding weak or afraid. A lot of our veterans will hide everything inside of them and try to keep it bottled up, and this isn't good because it can create future headaches and heartbreaks down the road. Suicide rates for both veterans and military members are at astronomical levels, and I feel that if transitioning servicemembers and veterans know they don't have to go through this alone, it would truly make this world a better place.
Why I need your help:
Starting a charity isn't exactly cheap, and unfortunately I just don't have the funds as a full-time college student who works to pay my own way through school. Just to get this memorial charity established, the total fees required add up to $450 which is something I don't exactly have to spend. This amount doesn't include printing handouts, holding seminars, traveling to different support groups, lobbying congress, or even venturing out to nearby rescue centers to help homeless veterans. I am in the process of of getting this fund registered as a 501(c)(3) charity in memory of Drew Cook and Luke Mielke, a former Seaman and a Marine who both suffered from similar issues, so that everything I do will be transparent and governed correctly. I need your help to get this charity registered correctly so that we can begin to change this culture of constant suffering by our veterans. By donating to this cause, I promise that veterans and servicemembers everywhere will be better equipped to deal with things such as opioid-abuse awareness, suicide prevention, how to deal with bill collectors, or anything else that our veterans may face down the road.
If you have any advice at all, please don't hesitate to contact me and let me know. I am open to all ideas that support this cause, and could your expertise and advice.
Organizer
Jeff Fisher
Organizer
Roanoke, VA
