Robin Kelleher and Shannon Maxwell wanted to be a part of helping military members and their families after their Marine husbands were deployed and Maxwell’s husband was severely injured.
They were stationed at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejune, North Carolina in 2006 where they witnessed how the war affected both the military and their families.
“We were living in a time where all the families living beside me and nearby were going through the same time – it was a time where wounded were coming home and families didn’t know what they would do next,” Kelleher said.
Questions like ‘how would they get resources and move forward?’
“At first when we started, we were focusing on helping the families and caregivers,” she said.
Now, it is a much larger effort, which is completely led by Kelleher, combat veterans, and military family members.
The one-time grassroots effort has turned into a national nonprofit that provides assistance to combat wounded service members, their families, and families of those killed in action.
Related
For more than 15 years, Hope For The Warriors has worked to provide many types of care through a number of programs to restore self, family, and hope to post 9/11 service members, veterans, and military family.
“We have staff throughout the country and we provide programming in all 50 states with a focus on mental wellness,” Kelleher said, “which can include financial health, physical, moral and mental health, and employment.”
The nonprofit has raised more than $70 million and significantly impacted the wounded and fallen military communities and has served more than 36,000 people.
“We were really founded on the principle of family,” Kelleher said. “Knowing that military families are going to continue serving their country meant that we ensure we have a strong and resilient force like our organization that needs to grow and maintain that advocacy.”
Many people have asked the question, we aren’t at war, so why do we need you? Kelleher said the reality is that there are people out there still serving our country.
Related
“We don’t know what will happen tomorrow,” she said while adding that many people who have come through the organization are battling their own wars at home from the impact of being in the military.
Along with helping with clinical health and wellness, Hope For The Warriors also focuses on transition services and sports and recreation.
The sports and recreation programs focus on organic healing through a sport or hobby.
There is a 30-day virtual challenge available that focuses on physical and emotional wellness. There is also the opportunity to do outdoor adventures or be on Team Hope For The Warriors.
Transition services are available to support the career, educational and personal goals of service members, veterans, and their families during and after service.
“We give out scholarships for spouses and caregivers and employment transition support for veterans,” Kelleher said.
Related
In helping transition veterans to a new job, Hope For The Warriors works with corporations to help them understand the benefit of hiring veterans.
“We will continue to advocate for military families in employment and make sure people and companies are aware of the benefit of hiring veterans or a military spouse,” she said.
Kelleher said the organization also focuses its time on breaking down the stigma of mental health and suicide and helping people understand the journey people take before they decide to end their life.
“Through advocating and recognizing the normalcy and normal process people undergo experiencing trauma, in combat particularly, the rest of the country is learning from us,” she said. “We don’t look at PTSD as a weakness and we want to open up those conversations about suicide and create access to care for the people who need it.”
Like many other nonprofits, there are only so many services Hope For The Warriors provides, but Kelleher said the organization has more than 100 partners they work with to help veterans, the members of the military, and their families.
As a 4-star rated charity, Kelleher said there would be no way to do the work they do without the help of so many people who have invested in the organization.
“We are a good investment and hope to continue to help more people,” she said.
Related
