Give the opportunity 2 live 2day Vet lives matter

What does it mean to go from being the most visible soldier to the most invisible Veteran?

According to the VA, 22 Veterans commit suicide daily.  One suicide is heartbreaking, notably affecting an estimated 135 surviving individuals for each death by suicide.  Our nation grieves with each suicide, prompting collective efforts of suicide prevention usually treated with a crisis hotline, group therapy, medication, and hospitalization.

Veterans’ suicide has no single cause, however, it is important to understand the plight of a Veteran.   Veterans move into the civilian world with existing challenges that many people outside of the military do not understand. The transition is made more difficult by social alienation.

Social alienation is even more dangerous to your health than smoking.  An individual with a history of weak social connections and a higher chance of experiencing prolonged periods of loneliness is likely facing a reduced life span, not different from that of someone who smokes 15 cigarettes a day. The combination of isolation and invisibility create deadly consequences post-service.

This is not the way to solve feelings of social alienation

BusiNeighbor Inc.’s approach to reduce feelings of alienation is through recreational therapy. Recreation provides astonishing health benefits: decrease stress hormones, lowers risk of suicide and improves overall physical health.  In 2017, we opened the BusiNeighbor Veterans Recreation Center. We learned from Veterans that many do not like taking medications for fear of side effects and attending group therapy often leave them more depressed after leaving the VA hospital. At the BusiNeighbor Veterans Recreation Center positive relationships were formed. The facility had an exercise room, a computer lab and a reading library. Veterans reported feeling better knowing they had a place other than a hospital to relax, to fellowship with other Veterans and a place to call their own. The center gave them purpose and they looked forward to visiting. We ran it successfully and fine-tuned operations. In the two years BusiNeighbor established partnerships with local restaurants that donated food and local business professionals who donated a plethora of services from haircuts to massages. Tragically, a flood caused major damage to the facility, forcing the owner to sell. 

Realizing waiting is not an option for the Veterans considering suicide tomorrow, BusiNeighbor Inc. wants to continue saving lives today and we need your support. Suicide prevention is a national priority and BusiNeighbor Inc. is dedicated to this mission.  Together, we can help Veterans de-stress to progress.

Will You help Today? BusiNeighbor needs another facility.

Your donation toward our $50,000 goal will provide BusiNeighbor the choice to purchase a property and fix it up or funds to rent and occupy an existing space.

Unite with BusiNeighbor  to help the men and women who fought to protect us. Thank you.