My Nonprofit Reviews
iceman64
Review for Vets Journey Home USA, Inc., Milwaukee, WI, USA
Vets Journey Home is an honorable welcoming intensive weekend. It was started by a Viet Nam veteran that felt a need to welcome home Viet Nam veterans that had gotten no support from the general population. It has morphed into a multi state organization that has brought home many hundreds of Veterans of all services, that have served in war and peace time. A major benefit is the women that attend these weekends. They are able to tell their story in a very safe container. As an instructor for these weekends, I have seen many hurting veterans find the peace they are looking for and have seen them return to the joy that they so richly deserve!
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Would you volunteer for this group again?
Definitely
For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?
Life-changing
Did the organization use your time wisely?
Very Well
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
Review for Vets Journey Home USA, Inc., Milwaukee, WI, USA
Vets Journey Home came to early on when it was Bamboo Bridge. I took Bamboo Bridge in 1997 and have been active in what is now Vets Journey Home. In taking the weekend back in '97, I, for the first time in many years was able to tell my story to people that could and would understand. It was, literally, a life changing weekend. That was the weekend that I started my journey home. I had been lost and shut down for a long time.talking abut my 'Nam experience, and getting out in the open served to start healing the emotional wounds that I have experienced. Now staffing the weekends, giving back, has helped me to continue to heal and has started the healing process for other wounded vets.
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I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
helping my self and other vets
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
recruit as many students as possible
Review for Starfish Foundation Inc, Milwaukee, WI, USA
After returning home from my tour in 'Nam, I stayed drunk for many years, hoping to forget. The only joy I had was through my children. I did finally quit drinkin, and the pain continued. I still had the issues, dreams and pain. It wasn't til I heard about Vets Journey Home, it was called Bamboo Bridge at that time, 1997, that I did any real work in my issues. A buddy told me about the weekend and I decided to attend. The Fridayy evening of the weekend, I got so scared of facing my demons, that I left and didn't come back that weekend. Some time passed, the pain increased and the dreams kept me from functioning in the world. I decided to face my fears and attend another Vets Journey Home weekend. This one, I saw thru. I faced the worst of my dreams, talked about it for the first time in many, many years. That weekend started me on my path to self recovery. With the help of the very concerned staff, I was taken back to 'Nam and talked about what happened. After that weekend, I still have the dreams, and they don't have the charge they had, nor do they own me any more. It has been my honor to staff many Vets Journy Home weekends. Giving back the the orginazation that, litteraly saved my life and sanity.
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I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
staffing the Vets Journey Home weekends. Seeing the wounded Vets find an honorable homecoming.
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
find better ways to get the word about the good work that Vets Journey Home does
What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
watching the faces of the families, seeing their loved ones, really come home
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
decitaed, honorable people wanting to help the Vets that have secured their freedom
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
go nation wide and help thousands of wounde Vets, from all wars
Ways to make it better...
had taken the weekend sooned
In my opinion, the biggest challenges facing this organization are...
not being well enough known
One thing I'd also say is that...
one of the most valuable things that I have learned, is NOT talking about what happened to me or any combat Vet, is NOT the way to handle it!
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every six months
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2009
Review for Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Charitable Service Trust, Erlanger, KY, USA
Returning home after my tour in 'Nam, I stayed drunk for many years, trying to drown the hurt. I did stop drinking and still had the deep pain. I stayed shut down for over 30 years. The only joy I had was my children. A friend told me about Vets Journey Home, then called Bamboo Bridge. The first time I tried to take the weekend, I left after Friday night. Some time later I did finish the weekend. I had, and still have, recurring nightmares. After taking the weekend there is now a sense of peace, that was not there before and somethng I have been seeking for many, many years. It has been my honor to staff several Vets Journey Home weekends and have seen the welcoming home of the veterans that they so richly deserve.
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I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
finding a measure of peace in my mind. Being able to help other Vets. Facing my own demons.
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
advertise more.
What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
Giving back. Helping with my suriviors guilt
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
dedicated loving people.
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
spread this awesome work through out AMreica.
Ways to make it better...
I had done it sooner.
In my opinion, the biggest challenges facing this organization are...
getting the word out that this weekend WORKS for the veteran.
One thing I'd also say is that...
To the vets themselves!!! Not talking about is NOT the way to go. The demons can't live in the light
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every six months
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2009
Thank you for sharing your deeply personal journey. It takes incredible strength to confront pain that has lingered for so many years, and your story is a powerful testament to the healing and transformation that Vets Journey Home provides. We are grateful that you found a sense of peace through the program and that you’ve been able to give back by staffing weekends to welcome other veterans home. Thank you for being part of this meaningful mission.
