There are few people in our community who are more selfless than our veterans. For the brave individuals who have pledged their service to protect and defend the nation, returning to everyday life post-service can be a difficult and taxing endeavor. Goodwill Manasota is devoted to helping veterans become successful in our community so they feel valued, involved and important. The organization serves as a conduit to the many available resources and individuals within the region to connect veterans with the resources they need. In 2014, Goodwill was able to assist over 500 veterans and their families through the help of personal case managers to ensure they were connected to the right people to seek employment, properly apply for benefits, enroll in mental health programs to food assistance centers. 

With the myriad agencies dedicated to veterans, Goodwill Manasota acknowledges the amount of time and energy it takes to get the connected to the right people for help. “We developed the Veterans Resource Guide, a 60-page booklet featuring an extensive list of services and resources, strictly to help Veterans find assistance and success,” said Bob Rosinsky, CEO of Goodwill Manasota. “Through our Veterans Services Program, collaboration with community leaders and innovative programs such as the Special Emergency Resources for Veterans (SERV) Initiative, a special emergency fund for times of acute and immediate need, we are finding ways to help veterans in their time of need.” To find out more about the work Goodwill is accomplishing with veterans in our community, visit www.experiencegoodwill.org.

Goodwill Manasota is a 2015 SRQ Story Project partner and the featured non-profit organization this April. To learn how your donations and purchases make an impact, visit them online.