"Finding Peace from the Hidden Battle"
Our mission is to mentor veterans while providing farming opportunity in safe and supportive environments where they can achieve wellness themselves and produce healthy food for our nation.
Andy's Story
Since 2017 we have helped provide lodging to over 20 veterans suffering from Post Traumatic Stress (PTS) with our partner Dawn of Hope Ranch in Florissant, Colorado. This year we were able to rescue an Oregon Veteran from suicide and place him on our VetREST farm in Florida. Below is a picture of Andy with my brother, Nate, who runs the farm.
I'd like to share with you what Andy recently wrote me:
"This place saved my life. Several weeks ago I was looking for a building to jump off of. I felt like the walls were closing in, everything was falling apart and there was no escape. Over the past couple years I was so focused on my recovery that I ignored what was causing it, and the majority of all the other problems win my life. I've spent the last 15 years running from my PTSD and it finally caught up to me.
I got a phone call from Dan that very day after my family reached out to VetREST. He said that he had a safe place for me to go, to take the time in needed to confront my demons. A week later I was in Florida on the farm. I can say without a doubt that this place saved my life. I have tried several different structured programs with the VA and haven't had any success. A place like this is instrumental in helping me get my life back on track!"--Andrew, US Army OIF/OEF Veteran
As you can see, our farms and ranches are key to helping vets recover. We would like to help more veterans by placing them on our farm in Florida but we need your help. $30,000 enables us to build and install a tiny home. But there are other projects that can also help us reach this goal by building a sustainable income. Click on https://www.vetrest.org/donate.html and scroll down to the Florida chapter to see opportunities to help out the farm! Your gift helps us literally save the lives of our deserving veterans.
I'd like to share with you what Andy recently wrote me:
"This place saved my life. Several weeks ago I was looking for a building to jump off of. I felt like the walls were closing in, everything was falling apart and there was no escape. Over the past couple years I was so focused on my recovery that I ignored what was causing it, and the majority of all the other problems win my life. I've spent the last 15 years running from my PTSD and it finally caught up to me.
I got a phone call from Dan that very day after my family reached out to VetREST. He said that he had a safe place for me to go, to take the time in needed to confront my demons. A week later I was in Florida on the farm. I can say without a doubt that this place saved my life. I have tried several different structured programs with the VA and haven't had any success. A place like this is instrumental in helping me get my life back on track!"--Andrew, US Army OIF/OEF Veteran
As you can see, our farms and ranches are key to helping vets recover. We would like to help more veterans by placing them on our farm in Florida but we need your help. $30,000 enables us to build and install a tiny home. But there are other projects that can also help us reach this goal by building a sustainable income. Click on https://www.vetrest.org/donate.html and scroll down to the Florida chapter to see opportunities to help out the farm! Your gift helps us literally save the lives of our deserving veterans.
VetREST Bomber Victory Garden--Mar 6, 2020
Ron White continues to lead our Oregon Chapter to new heights in helping veterans through gardening in the Portland area.
Haller Tiny Farm Dedication--Nov 24, 2019
On November 24th at our VetREST farm on 1941 Parnell Rd., Zolfo Springs, FL 33890 we dedicated our first tiny farm to CPT Brian Douglas Haller. Brian was a 1981 West Point graduate who was killed along with 247 other peacekeepers on Dec. 12, 1985 when the plane they were on crashed in Gander, Newfoundland. This tiny farm will be used to house veterans on our Florida VetREST Farm. Special thanks to all the West Point grads, veterans and Home Depot who generously gave so that this house could be built! Special thanks to Nate York for awesome food and to all those who helped make this day happen!
