2025 Year End Giving

As 2025 comes to a close, and we enter our 30th year of service to local veterans, we find ourselves reflecting on the courage and sacrifice of the men and women who have served our nation. Their dedication secured the freedom to live our lives, but too often, the battles in their own lives continue long after they return home.

This year has been difficult for hundreds of thousands of veteran families across the country. Many are facing challenges they never expected: hunger, unemployment, financial hardship, eviction, emotional struggles, and a loss of connection. These are not strangers – they are our heroes, our neighbors, our family members.

As a part of the Veterans Path to Hope family, your generosity and compassion make a difference in their lives every day. With your amazing support, we served over 2,300 veterans and their families so far this year.

⋆ You feed families by ensuring our Crystal Lake and Grayslake food pantries are full and ready.
“I have been using Veterans Path to Hope for a little over a year now & have been so thankful for you guys. My kids love going there & be able to pick out some snacks & other foods that we simply just don’t have the money for usually.“

⋆ You prevent the eviction of veterans and their families from their warm, safe homes.
“5pm on a Friday before a holiday...many people are already off but we just got a call from a female homeless veteran in desperate need due to being flooded out. Homelessness has no closing bell, no clock-out time, & no schedule.“

⋆ You fill the gap between grant funding and the reality of making sure one more homeless veteran is in a warm, clean emergency shelter or room on a cold night.
A young veteran was recently directed to us by the McHenry County Sheriff's Office. Not quite ready to enter our programs, he preferred to camp in the nearby woods. Gradually, he would come in for food or to just get warm. Unfortunately, he recently fell off his bike. The progressive trust we built with him enabled us to connect him with medical assistance.

⋆ You help veterans retrain or learn new skills to earn enough to live independently and keep their families together.
"Thank you Veterans Path to Hope and to Rachael for helping us get started in our new place! We are forever grateful for this organization & the people there."

⋆ You provide over 350 therapy sessions free of charge to veterans rebuilding their lives and careers.
“I learned a lot about myself & other people’s situations that put my life into perspective through sessions with my counselor & additional group sessions provided by VPH staff at New Horizons.“

In 2026, we are expanding our programs and resources to help even more veterans in northern Illinois and southeastern Wisconsin. We have big goals and plans while never forgetting each individual veteran is still fighting their own personal battles. We are here when they are ready.

We invite you to continue supporting their efforts and our mission. Your gift, no matter the size, makes a significant difference during the upcoming holiday season and sustains these essential programs throughout the entire year. We welcome volunteers as well!

Thank you once again for your enduring commitment to the VPH mission and for standing with us to uplift those who have sacrificed so much for our freedom. Your generosity truly transforms lives and cultivates hope in our community.