The "Why"
"Be you civilian or military, this country needs your support, so I'm hoping we'll get it from all of you."
- J.T. Wayne, USMC
"My books is, help other people."
- Francisco Ortiz, Army/Navy
Younger veterans (served 1990 onward), now the largest living veteran population¹, face critical challenges such as homelessness, substance abuse disorders, and mental health issues.
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Research indicates they are at substantially higher risk compared to the general population.²
At the same time, our team’s volunteer work at the Indiana Veterans' Home (IVH) has revealed gaps in services for older veterans (served before 1990), particularly in staffing and companionship.
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Staff have expressed the need for volunteers to assist with transporting disabled veterans throughout the home, in addition to filling the gap in consistent social outlets for residents.
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In response, our goal is to establish volunteer shifts in collaboration with veteran-related organizations and create a monthly interview series with veterans. These efforts will tangibly benefit veterans, preserve their stories, and educate our country on why their service and experiences matter. Ultimately, we aim to develop an organizational storytelling model that can be replicated on college campuses nationwide.​
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1. Schaeffer, Katherine. “The Changing Face of America’s Veteran Population.” Pew Research Center, 8 Nov. 2023. Pew Research Center, https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/11/08/the-changing-face-of-americas-veteran-population/.
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2. Moore, Marlyn J., et al. “Veteran and Military Mental Health Issues.” StatPearls [Internet], StatPearls Publishing, updated 17 Aug. 2023, NCBI Bookshelf, National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK572092/.