Monday is Veterans Day and there are a few places one can go to seek help if needed, including "Every Third Saturday", a space to provide Veterans and their families a place they can connect, grow, share experiences, and build community.
Their goal is to foster hope and post traumatic growth according to veterans advocate Eric Geesaman.
"We seek to support, connect and empower veterans and just really look at making their tomorrow better than their today," Geesaman says.
They have a supply store that veterans can use once a month.
"It's totally free for them. They can get clothing hygiene products, shoes," he adds. "Just the things that they need to help get through their days and their weeks."
They also providde a five-week post-traumatic growth program.
"It's called Warriors Return and it's really all about returning to who we were before, whether, whatever it was that we suffered trauma or any sort of life changing event," he said.
Veterans speaking with other veterans is extremely beneficial too.
"Conversation tends to flow a lot better. I would much rather talk to another veteran about my experiences than somebody who's not," Gleesaman told WCCO.
They average about 200 vets through their store every month.
"You can definitely see the changes in people a lot of times the first time or two that they come in," says Geesaman. "They won't say much at all about anything pertinent. One of our members here regular he, you know, didn't say a word to us for, you know, the first couple of years and now, you know, it's almost impossible to have him stop talking. We love that."
If you're looking for a quick way to help those who served, one thing you can do is send cards or letters to the VA Health Care System.
EVT is open on Veterans Day and they're located at 5402 43rd Avenue South Minneapolis. If you'd like to donate supplies you can do so Tuesday and Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.