“Why I Serve – And Why I’m Asking You to Stand With Us”

As a board member and someone who leads VSSN’s housing and outreach efforts, I’ve had the privilege—and the heartbreak—of standing with veterans in some of their most vulnerable moments.

I’ve helped place veterans who were days away from losing everything into housing. I’ve packed hygiene kits, handed out food boxes, and coordinated events where hundreds of military families received the dignity and support they deserved.

But what’s always stuck with me are the faces behind the numbers.

Like the young veteran dad who came to one of our events with his three children. They had been sleeping in their car for weeks. He didn’t ask for anything more than directions to a shelter. But we didn’t just give him directions—we gave him a team.

Within days, he was in temporary housing. His kids had beds. They had food. We connected him to employment resources and ongoing case management. Today, he’s working full-time and living independently. He recently came back—to volunteer.

Then, there was the veteran who came to us in pain, confused, and scared. Her symptoms were dismissed for years until we helped her get the specialized care she needed. She later shared that VSSN’s quick response and compassion helped her out of a place of hopelessness and into recovery.

This Is Why I’m Asking for Your Support

These aren’t isolated stories. These are daily realities for the veterans we serve across Riverside County.

And now, because of government cuts, our Outreach and Case Management services are at risk—the very services that provide emergency housing, essential supplies, and long-term support.

If we don’t act, veterans will lose access to:

Housing placement and shelter coordination

Food, hygiene, and medical device support

Peer navigation and suicide prevention

Childcare resources and career connections

The community they depend on to survive and heal

You Can Be a Lifeline

Your gift today can restore that safety net. It can help us respond to the next veteran in crisis before it’s too late.

Every dollar supports a real person, a real story, and a real chance at hope.

Please, join me in protecting the lives of those who once protected all of us.

Donate today. Share our mission. Be the lifeline