heartGuided Empowerment Class:
Ron is hosting a Guided Empowerment Class (Mindfulness Program) that you won't want to miss. This inventive class is an hour of exploring different modalities of breathing, meditation and mindfulness aimed at empowering individuals in transforming their lives on every level. We are very pleased with how this class is coming along and able to assist some parents of vets with their struggle.
Donation given to "Leatherneck BackCountry Fishing" Ben Trainers Non-Profit Organization:
This heartwarming story is one reason why we support Ben Trainer's organization:
"I am a Viet Nam Veteran, whose story of others is similar. I was diagnosed with Stage IV Throat Cancer in December of 2017. Initially I was NOT going to go through the treatment protocol, ie, Chemo and Radiation. That’s when Ben came into my life through one of my closest friends and confidant, Danny Hanes. Ben was awesome, non judgmental, didn’t pry into my cancer thought process, only talked of great days in USMC and fishing. After two full days of fishing, I was calm enough to collect my thoughts regarding the cancer, the treatment, and most of all, My Family. Ben’s kindness allowed me the time and space to make the final decision to “fight” the cancer. As I departed from Ben, I told him I “would fight” the disease. But know this: I do not think I could have come to that decision without the time of “clarity”. What Ben does is nothing short of a miracle for Veterans in crisis. 15 months later and I am still here, and ever so grateful to Ben Trainer and Danny Hanes. My family, my wife and my life are grateful beyond mere words. Please help support this awesome man and the service he offers to those that have sacrificed so much !!!!" ~John Jamason (Ben's contact info listed below)
Meetings & Guest Speakers:
Ron is hosting meetings for the general public to attend. There will be guest speakers to educate and assist in knowing how to empower ourselves and our veterans.
NEW OUTREACH PROGRAM starting in the Spring, 2019:
"Adopt a Veteran". This is for people who want to get involved by visiting our Vets in hospitals and nursing homes. This was inspired through a student of our mindfulness program. It came to our attention there are many veterans and elderly who have no one to visit them, no one to share holidays with or talk to. If you want to Adopt a vet or just stop by to let someone know they are not alone, call "Gardens of Venice" at 2901 Jacaranda in Venice, FL for more information.
Our Outreach Programs:
Thank you for helping us in your continued support as we evolve in finding the most effective ways to facilitate others change their lives and the world. If you have suggestions on how we can be of service, let us know.
In the past our ultimate goal had been to build a gym free for Veterans as it has been proven that exercise helps heal PTSD and TBI. Also having owned and run a gym for over 20 years, Ron knows the benefit first hand as well as you need more then just exercise to accelerate the healing. Leading up to that goal, TLWH had leased a building with plans to convert it into a gym, but in the mean time we used it as a homeless shelter. What we learned over the 2 years we had this building offering assistance and weekly programs was that it would be more effective to partner with existing gyms and add other components to the exercise which are breathing and meditation. This will enable us to reach more service connected people faster and more efficiently. There are many ways to help form a supportive community, this is the way we chose to offer support.
When TLWH was renting a building in Key Largo, January 2015-December 2016, our outreach had evolved along with the initial mission. Early on, everything was about creating awareness until we began holding workshops in early 2014. These workshops grew in attendance and volunteers. We began to open them to all of the community. A presence was felt in the local community and many were starting to stop by to see what we were doing and what we were about. Referrals from other local outreaches/charities here in South Florida such as our churches, food pantries, Florida Keys Outreach Coalition and the Advocate Program (Veterans organization) started flowing in. Initially we just did our best to take care of those that showed up on our doorsteps as we had developed a lot of connections through our weekly program. We added things we could do immediately such as providing food, a shower, toiletries, employment referrals and temporary shelter. We then expanded this to delivering donated baked goods and other foods to sites where those experiencing homelessness congregate on a regular basis.
We also help those that are disabled or do not have the means to get to the VA Hospital or running other errands that they can't do easily on their own. We have helped Veterans get services the community offers, benefits they are entitled to, employment, programs to get their life back, shelter, food and dignity. We have discovered that if the statistics of 30 to 40% of the homeless population are Veterans the other 60 to 70% are children of Veterans for they were brought up in a severely dysfunctional household.
We do our best to ensure that everybody we encounter has what they came seeking whether it's counseling, a bite to eat, a place to lay their head for a night or a shoulder to lean on. Rest assured they all left with the same thing, dignity.
Ron is hosting a Guided Empowerment Class (Mindfulness Program) that you won't want to miss. This inventive class is an hour of exploring different modalities of breathing, meditation and mindfulness aimed at empowering individuals in transforming their lives on every level. We are very pleased with how this class is coming along and able to assist some parents of vets with their struggle.
- Open to the public.
- Time: Every Tuesday at 1:30 pm (starting January 2019) Ongoing
- Place: Venice YMCA on Center Rd in Studio C (Venice, FL)
Donation given to "Leatherneck BackCountry Fishing" Ben Trainers Non-Profit Organization:
This heartwarming story is one reason why we support Ben Trainer's organization:
"I am a Viet Nam Veteran, whose story of others is similar. I was diagnosed with Stage IV Throat Cancer in December of 2017. Initially I was NOT going to go through the treatment protocol, ie, Chemo and Radiation. That’s when Ben came into my life through one of my closest friends and confidant, Danny Hanes. Ben was awesome, non judgmental, didn’t pry into my cancer thought process, only talked of great days in USMC and fishing. After two full days of fishing, I was calm enough to collect my thoughts regarding the cancer, the treatment, and most of all, My Family. Ben’s kindness allowed me the time and space to make the final decision to “fight” the cancer. As I departed from Ben, I told him I “would fight” the disease. But know this: I do not think I could have come to that decision without the time of “clarity”. What Ben does is nothing short of a miracle for Veterans in crisis. 15 months later and I am still here, and ever so grateful to Ben Trainer and Danny Hanes. My family, my wife and my life are grateful beyond mere words. Please help support this awesome man and the service he offers to those that have sacrificed so much !!!!" ~John Jamason (Ben's contact info listed below)
Meetings & Guest Speakers:
Ron is hosting meetings for the general public to attend. There will be guest speakers to educate and assist in knowing how to empower ourselves and our veterans.
- Open to the public
- Time: One Thursday per month at 7:00 pm (each date will be announced on FB & through our email blast)
- Place: Key Largo, FL
NEW OUTREACH PROGRAM starting in the Spring, 2019:
"Adopt a Veteran". This is for people who want to get involved by visiting our Vets in hospitals and nursing homes. This was inspired through a student of our mindfulness program. It came to our attention there are many veterans and elderly who have no one to visit them, no one to share holidays with or talk to. If you want to Adopt a vet or just stop by to let someone know they are not alone, call "Gardens of Venice" at 2901 Jacaranda in Venice, FL for more information.
Our Outreach Programs:
- Guided Empowerment Class in Venice, FL (see above info)
- TLWH is currently subsidizing gym memberships for Veterans, Macks gym in Key Largo, FL is pleased to accept memberships
- Adopt a Veteran Program
- Subsidizing the Leatherneck Back Country fishing Program with Ben Trainer who takes veterans on therapeutic fishing trips for free. Contact Ben 305-570-9424
- Working to get sponsorships for veterans participation in Mud Runs and other races along these lines.
- Creating comradery within our communities, showing we are all in this together and supporting one another.
- Providing financial aid to Vets who want private counseling and qualify for that aid
- Guidance in getting the benefits they are entitled to
Thank you for helping us in your continued support as we evolve in finding the most effective ways to facilitate others change their lives and the world. If you have suggestions on how we can be of service, let us know.
In the past our ultimate goal had been to build a gym free for Veterans as it has been proven that exercise helps heal PTSD and TBI. Also having owned and run a gym for over 20 years, Ron knows the benefit first hand as well as you need more then just exercise to accelerate the healing. Leading up to that goal, TLWH had leased a building with plans to convert it into a gym, but in the mean time we used it as a homeless shelter. What we learned over the 2 years we had this building offering assistance and weekly programs was that it would be more effective to partner with existing gyms and add other components to the exercise which are breathing and meditation. This will enable us to reach more service connected people faster and more efficiently. There are many ways to help form a supportive community, this is the way we chose to offer support.
When TLWH was renting a building in Key Largo, January 2015-December 2016, our outreach had evolved along with the initial mission. Early on, everything was about creating awareness until we began holding workshops in early 2014. These workshops grew in attendance and volunteers. We began to open them to all of the community. A presence was felt in the local community and many were starting to stop by to see what we were doing and what we were about. Referrals from other local outreaches/charities here in South Florida such as our churches, food pantries, Florida Keys Outreach Coalition and the Advocate Program (Veterans organization) started flowing in. Initially we just did our best to take care of those that showed up on our doorsteps as we had developed a lot of connections through our weekly program. We added things we could do immediately such as providing food, a shower, toiletries, employment referrals and temporary shelter. We then expanded this to delivering donated baked goods and other foods to sites where those experiencing homelessness congregate on a regular basis.
We also help those that are disabled or do not have the means to get to the VA Hospital or running other errands that they can't do easily on their own. We have helped Veterans get services the community offers, benefits they are entitled to, employment, programs to get their life back, shelter, food and dignity. We have discovered that if the statistics of 30 to 40% of the homeless population are Veterans the other 60 to 70% are children of Veterans for they were brought up in a severely dysfunctional household.
We do our best to ensure that everybody we encounter has what they came seeking whether it's counseling, a bite to eat, a place to lay their head for a night or a shoulder to lean on. Rest assured they all left with the same thing, dignity.
