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Supporting our Military Families

It’s tough to imagine being separated from your family and friends for lengthy periods of time, or being sent to distant, dangerous locations in order to defend our Country and our Freedom. It’s a sacrifice that very few of us have experienced. Thus, many family members face significant challenges and financial stress due to the job that their deployed family member left behind.

Listed below are examples of how we help support our Military Families(through the donations we make to organizations each year)…

2022 Grant Examples from MMFF(Minnesota Military Family Foundation)

Grant Request Date: Monday, September 19, 2022 1:46 pm
Service member was serving as a senior enlisted NCO in the Minnesota Army National Guard when he unexpectedly passed away on 18 Aug 2022. His wife is waiting for life insurance to come through. Life insurance does not pay until a death certificate is signed and the toxicology report is complete, which can take up to 50 days. When the service member passed away the family was in the middle of putting their basement back together after a flood. Although the basement was demo-ed right away, the service member then went on deployment for 1 year.  Upon return from deployment, he began remodeling the basement and was getting the basement completed when he passed away. The family did not receive insurance money for the damage because it was a flood and the home was not in a flood zone, so they did not have flood insurance. The cost of supplies is estimated at approx. $13,800. The family requested support to get through this one month until the life insurance is paid.  Grant Request Amount of $1,886.25 was approved on Monday, September 19, 2022 5:33 pm

Grant Request Date: Monday, September 12, 2022 4:27 pm
Service member requested 3 months of financial assistance for his family of 5 while he underwent treatment for PTSD. His PTSD was related to his combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. He struggled with PTSD, suicidal thoughts and substance use and realized he needed help to be present with his family. The treatment program was for three months, during which he would not be working. To avoid financial stress on his family he said he would be grateful for any financial assistance during this hard time. The service member requested assistance with monthly bills for mortgage, car insurance, car payments, and electric bill.  Grant Request Amount of $6,822.96 was approved Monday, September 12, 2022, 5:49 pm

Grant Request Date: Friday, August 12, 2022, 10:59 am
While deployed overseas to the Middle East, service member’s home boiler heat exchanger failed, causing holes inside of the boiler’s housingm making it unrepairable. After reaching out to several agencies for assistance, he was
unsuccessful in getting help. During that time his family had to put in electric space heaters that ran 24/7 and accrued an outstanding balance on the electric bill. At the same time the family vehicle’s motor failed, resulting in several thousands in repair.Service member requested assistance to pay for a boiler and overdue electric bill.  Grant Request Amount of $10,455.58 was approved on Friday, August 12, 2022,11:52 am

Grant Request Date: Monday, July 25, 2022, 11:15 am
Service member requested assistance for back rent to avoid eviction, car insurance, utilities, car payment and childcare. She had lost her job and it took 2 months to find another one. A single mom leaving an abusive relationship. Her dad helped her as much as he could. Her struggles were brought to the attention of her chain of command who referred her to the Soldier and Family Readiness Centers. The service member needed help to get out of this financial crisis, to get back on her feet and make a better life for her and her daughter. In addition to working her new job, she is working to finish a degree in Law Enforcement.  Grant request amount of $10,858.98 was approved on Tuesday, July 26, 2022, 1:36 pm                                                                                                                                            (After this grant request was approved, the service member sent a message to the MMFF including the following: As a Soldier who grew up with financial struggles my whole life, with a struggling single father of 6 children, I never thought I would “catch a break”. I have always felt destined to live in the “struggle”. That this was going to be “how my life was” and it “is what it is”. This grant gives me hope that I do not have to live my life in the struggle and there is a “way out”. I can break the stigma and provide a far better life for my daughter that I never had. It is organizations and foundations like this that keep people like myself from taking their own lives. The many stressful filled tears are NOW happy ones. If my story and experience can save another life, then so be it. I would be grateful to do so.)

2022 Donation

Veteran Valor Farm-The 2022 donation went to repairs from the fire we had and improvements on the main residence which included added eves and soffits. SFTT’s donation was critical to keeping the project moving with an anticipated grand opening of June 1st, 2023 and housing its first resident by July 1st of this year. 

2022 Donation

St. Cloud Stand Down-The 2022 donation was allocated to three different areas:  the front line food pantry, assisting 4 veterans with dental x-rays and cleaning, as well as one of their newer programs.

2021 Donation

Dear Shoot for the Troops,

Thank you so much for your donation of $10,000 to Veteran Valor Farm!  This was the largest single donation outside of a grant that we’ve received to date and feel truly blessed by your support😊

As you were able to see with your tour of our facilities, we have a lot of work ahead to get up and running.  Your donations will directly impact getting our facility opened (planned by summer of 2022).  Without the fire and flood tragedies of 2021, we’re certain we’d already be operating.  Our intent is to utilize the funding provided by your organization to pay for the electrical and plumbing destroyed by the fire of our pump house.

Although we’re not updating our online presence regularly, please visit our Facebook page or website for future updates and press releases www.veteranvalorfarm.org

2020 Donation
 
 
The Recovery Community Network is passionate about assisting veterans in recovery or veterans who are seeking recovery services.  Four of our board members are veterans in long-term recovery. We hold a special charge to assist anyone in the veteran community who may be living with or seeking help with a substance use disorder.
We seek to provide services to our veterans and their family members through peer-to-peer services and collaboration with other veteran friendly agencies.  Through a grant from the State of Minnesota we have a dedicated staff-member who works specifically with our veteran population assisting our veterans with all aspects of recovery.
 
With funding provided by the State of Minnesota and the Shoot for the Troops foundation we were able to provide 46 hours of recovery training to 15 veterans.  These 15 veterans are now trained in peer recovery techniques which will enable them to provide recovery services to other veterans who may be struggling with a drinking or drug problem.
 
Additionally, in 2021 we were able to assist over 70 individuals looking for housing, we provided weekly telephone recovery services to over 50 individuals and we provided on-going recovery services to over 100 veterans.

2020 Donation

Dear Shoot for the Troops,

Thank you so much for your generous donation of $5,000 to Veteran Valor Farm!

We have used these funds to install an ADA compliant electronic entry door for one of our two homes on the farm and are in the process of remodeling our bathroom to be ADA compliant with the remaining funds and other donations. This funding was and is crucial to our success in opening our doors this summer to veterans in the most need.

Its organizations like yourself that help keep our mission alive and we can’t thank you enough!!