A veterans organization in Monroe County is hoping to help more struggling servicemen and women. But right now the group is experiencing its own serious struggle with its biggest fundraiser of the year.
Raymond Berger is busy today reorganizing items to hand out to homeless veterans. Three years ago he could’ve easily ended up in their shoes.
Berger says, "It was really different and hard to come back and feel like I came home."
Instead, he graduated from “Veterans Unstoppable” that’s run by the Valor Clinic Foundation in Jonas. The life skills development program is designed to foster a healthy ‘war to peace’ readjustment.
Berger says, "Pick at the wound and actually heal more from it, and be aware of my triggers that might bring on like a PTSD or anxiety situation."
Thanks to the three month program and his service dog Grady also provided by Valor, the Army Veteran has a new outlook on life.
Berger says, "It makes me more fulfilled like I feel like that’s what I’m supposed to be doing like helping my brothers and my sisters."
Berger has joined the ranks at the nonprofit continuing their mission of giving the men and women who serve 'a hand up on the homefront.'
Berger says, "My main purpose here is that we supply furniture for veterans getting out into their first apartments or their house."
A lot of that outreach depends on their biggest fundraiser of the year— but so far only 30 tickets have been purchased for the Patriot’s Ball on November 9th. And the Terraview at the Stroudsmoor Country Inn has room for 350 people.
Valor Clinic Founder Mark Baylis says, "Our focus has been diffused because we got encouraged by supporters and vets to respond to Hurricane Helene and that took a lot of our attention for the past few weeks when we should’ve been pushing the Patriot’s Ball harder."
For just 125 dollars you can give back to those who served your country while enjoying a formal attire night out with music, dancing, gourmet food and cocktails from six to midnight.
Baylis says, "It’s an important anchor for us to keep everything going and we can’t do it without the good people that attend."
To attend, you can register for tickets by going to the Valor Clinic Foundation’s website and clicking on their events page.