When Rae O’Donnell left the Army after serving as a Military Police Officer and Special Forces member, she faced the same challenge many service members encounter: a sudden loss of rank, purpose, and community. “I didn’t know how to be a civilian. I didn’t know how to be a mom,” O’Donnell said, describing the isolation she felt.
New Hampshire is home to roughly 288 veteran‑focused nonprofits, yet O’Donnell knew only a handful. Determined to change that, she co‑founded the Veterans Resource Alliance of New England (VRA). Since its inception, VRA has assisted more than 100 veterans and their families with emergency aid, resource coordination, and mental‑health support.
Building a network of veteran‑led charities
O’Donnell says the real strength of these groups lies in their collaboration. “We have all these nonprofits out there, amazing organizations that exist because it comes from the heart, and yet veterans still don’t know what’s out there,” she explained. By sharing information and coordinating events, the nonprofits are creating a statewide safety net for those who have served.
Faith Harris, an Air Force veteran and founder of Walking with Honor, echoed that sentiment. After ten years of service and multiple deployments to Iraq, Harris struggled to readjust to civilian life. Her service dog, Honor, helped her survive that transition, inspiring her to launch a nonprofit that offers similar support to other veterans.
“There is a crisis when veterans fall through the cracks,” Harris warned, noting that nearly half of living veterans have never enrolled in VA healthcare or benefits, leaving millions outside the system.
Veteran‑driven community building
Jason Callahan, an Army veteran and founder of the New England Battalion Hockey Foundation, adds another dimension to the effort. His organization brings together veterans, active‑duty service members, first responders, and adaptive athletes through hockey, fostering camaraderie and a sense of belonging.
“We all had that identity in the military and first‑responder groups. Once you step outside of that realm, you want that identity back,” Callahan said. The foundation’s events provide a space where participants can rely on one another, just as they did in uniform.
All three founders describe their collaborations as a chosen family. “We formed these relationships and friendships because it’s our community, it’s our chosen family,” O’Donnell said. Their shared vision is simple yet powerful: to ensure no veteran falls through the void.
Looking ahead
O’Donnell hopes the growing network will eventually close the gap entirely. “I’m hoping that this problem we have, this gap, is completely netted and filled, and that we catch every veteran that falls,” she said.
For veterans in crisis, the article reminds readers that 24/7 confidential support is available by dialing 988 and pressing 1, or by visiting veterancrisisline.net/chat, regardless of VA enrollment.
Original reporting: WMUR (Hearst) – local news — read the source article.
