Community News and Events

Catch up on all the Vet Life Community News and Events

Click the Picture below to view the News video from Fox 5 Atlanta:

HIGHLAND RIVERS HEALTH PARTNERS WITH LIFE RENEWED / OPERATION NOT FORGOTTEN

As one of the largest providers of mental health and substance use treatment and recovery services in the state – serving veterans and residents across northwest Georgia – Highland Rivers Health knows (and years of research have found) timely treatment for mental health and substance use issues can reduce the risk of suicide.

Highland Rivers Health is proud to partner with Operation Not Forgotten to ensure the mental health of our veterans is not forgotten, but is respected, treated, supported, and remains a priority – for our communities, our families and our nation.

MORE

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, STEVE SCHIFFMAN, SPOKE AT THE 9TH DISTRICT AMERICAN LEGION CONVENTION IN VICTORIA, TEXAS ON APRIL 8, 2018.

OPERATION NOT FORGOTTEN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR STEVE SCHIFFMAN WILL  BE A GUEST SPEAKER AT THE AMERICAN LEGION DISTRICT 9 SPRING CONVENTION APRIL 7-8, 2018 IN VICTORIA, TEXAS.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

OUT OF THE DARKNESS COMMUNITY RIDE SPONSORED BY AMERICAN LEGION RIDERS POST 111

SATURDAY, APRIL 21, 2018 

TO BENEFIT OPERATION NOT FORGOTTEN VET LIFE COMMUNITIES

Cherokee County veterans and the Military Ministry at First Baptist Church Woodstock are teaming up to implement a new, innovative program called Operation Not Forgotten Vet Life Community.

The program, which is set to begin in July, will allow veterans of all conflicts and military branches to “come in and discuss in a secure and supportive manner life issues that they have or have had that deal with their time in service,” said Cherokee County Homeless Veteran Program director Jim Lindenmayer.   See More

Operation Not Forgotten/Vet Life Communities is proud to join forces with Emory Healthcare Veterans Program to serve as a resource as we ensure no Veteran is left behind. Emory Healthcare Veterans Program offers Post-9/11 veterans expert and collaborative care to help heal the invisible wounds of war, at no cost. Our comprehensive approach combines behavioral health care, including psychiatry and neurology, rehabilitative medicine, recreation and wellness, and family support to help our nation’s Veterans reintegrate and reclaim their life.

NEW Cherokee Veterans Community -  A new Vet Life Community  in Woodstock, Georgia. 

For more information: Tim King - timothy.king@fbcw.net / 678-494-2680

Meetings are every Thursday at 6:30 pm at First Baptist Church Woodstock, Building A, Rm. 140; 11905 Hwy. 92, Woodstock Ga. 30188 beginning in July.

(Progam Director Tim King - Left / https://www.linkedin.com/in/tking001)

 Operation Not Forgotten Team member Joe Taylor (Artist, Musician, Paleontologist, Philanthropist) will be publishing his book on his art work.  Congratulations, and many thanks, to Joe.  See More

O'Charley's Restaurant  supports Veterans in their community by supplying refreshments for Canton Vet Life Community weekly meetings. 

CablePAK™

Goodwill Communications, a firm which specializes in distributing public service advertising campaigns has donated $16,000 worth of pro-bono services to Operation Not Forgotten.  Twice – in Fall of 2012 and in Fall of 2014 - ONF’s TV PSA has been distributed in CablePAK, a high-quality four-color package of multiple TV PSAs mailed to 500 leading cable systems.  Included in the package is a four-color newsletter, individual storyboards for each client and a feature story for each client campaign. 

OPERATION NOT FORGOTTEN PARTNERS WITH

GWINNETT COUNTY VETERANS RESOURCE CENTER                                          

The GVRC is located in the Gwinnett County Annex, 750 S. Perry St. Suite 300, Lawrenceville, GA 30046.

Email Gwinnett Veteran Resource Center info@gcveterans.org or call  tel: 678.226.9177

GWINNETT DAILY POST SEPT. 19,2014  -  

Boys go to war. Often, they come home to tearful girlfriends or wives, parents, grandparents and friends who try their best to hold the soldiers’ hands and help them deal with the aftermath of war, memories of cruel sights and cruel acts they had little choice but to carry out.

Too often, those loved ones just don’t know how to help damaged young men, and anguish gets the better of the veterans, causing them to seek the only way out they can find: suicide. Now, a new national charity, whose treasurer is state Rep. Buzz Brockway, is starting its Georgia efforts in Gwinnett County and working on a plan to keep local veterans from taking that step.

Steve Schiffman, Executive Director of the non-profit, Operation Not Forgotten, says the need for veterans’ aide in Gwinnett and elsewhere is dire.

Within the program, veterans can attend casual support groups at local churches, where they will be able to discuss the issues they face after war with other veterans who can truly understand what they’re going through. Those who chose will go through a 12-step program, modeled after the one used in programs like Alcoholics Anonymous, to reach a more stable point in their lives and minds.

The veterans will also be offered a quality of life assessment, which gives a report that Schiffman says is like getting a “three-page scientific report — a specific report — to your issues.”

The reason for Gwinnett getting the pilot Georgia programs was in part that Brockway, a Lawrenceville Republican, is involved and the number of veterans in the county. According to the Gwinnett Coalition, the county’s 47,000 veterans in 2013 made it second only to Cobb and Fulton counties in veteran population in the state.

So far, the organization, which has had success in New York State, is still looking for churches to host programs in Gwinnett. 

Brockway plans to attend meeting, during which he and others with the organization hope pastors from around the Lawrenceville area will be attracted to the originality of the program.

“This (organization) is unique and has an excellent chance to be effective,” Brockway said, citing the 12-step aspect and the quality of life assessments. “I think dealing with that quality of life issue is something that government really can’t do. It’s something I don’t think we do well. This (is) a great opportunity to help that.”