NXTStep Vets

17 days till the .4570 raffle. Check out the custom rifle sling made by leather works legend Cody Hinks. Rifle Sling and Scope Mount. One with raffle. Today one of our Alumni starts his dream job. He has been homeless for a year. The job required a basic set of tools since he is a maintenance technician. We were able to come together and get a full set of tools for him! The raffles help us fund times like this. Help us sell out our tickets by buying yours today at https://lnkd.in/g2U2BAnF

Less than 30 days before the .4570 raffle.. get your tickets today! Did you know that 35K veterans were reported homeless in 2023? The homeless veterans I have spoken with all started with losing purpose in their life which lead to depression and loss in motivation. NXTSTEP vets raffle tickets help cover the cost of lodging for veterans that come into the program. Your $20 goes a long way.

J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery has definitely been working hard at putting together these batches honoring the military. You’ll be able to find these bottles at our live auction in June!

Don't forget to sign up! https://qrco.de/VETCLASSIC

Last year, the Final Mile Classic was a success. The tournament supported both the trucking Industry and our Veterans. This year, I am pleased to bring you the VET Golf Classic (Veteran Engagement Tournament). We will be bringing our veteran community and employers together for a great day of Golf and a Banquet like no other! Visit https://qrco.de/VETCLASSIC to sign up or learn more. If you would like to be a sponsor for the VET Golf Classic, please email [email protected].

This has been a very busy year thus far but a productive one. Spending time with veterans and mentoring them to be in a better place in life. My travels always put me in touch with other veterans. As I meet other veterans, we talk and get to know each other. Some Veterans need just an ear to listen to, while others need more in depth assistance. NXTStep vets is here to help all veterans find a better place in their life by living a life of purpose. 22 years ago, I read the Purpose Driven Life. This was a spiritual book that resonated with me but I never truly understood how to live it until recently. Spirituality is one of our pillars at NXTStep. Help donate to NXTStep Vets at at nxtstepvets.org. Every dollar counts in making a difference.

The last 3 weeks have been a whirlwind of items. While visiting with my father hospitalized, the need to keep up with our Veteran Alumni did not stop! While posts have been very few the last few weeks, we hit several milestones. Back in November 2024, I came upon a homeless veteran that was in a bad place in his life. I spent countless hours with him, housed him, clothed him and helped him stay fed. Getting him to a point of employment seemed far away. He had spent years constantly changing jobs and building the path that led him to the day we met. As the weeks went on, I noticed the need for him to receive mental health assistance to assure that we had him in a good place for employment. Many times, I thought I was over my head with this particular veteran. I knew that if NXTStep Vets was going to succeed, I would have to make a positive case of this veteran. No mater what, I just did not give up on him. Fast forward to 3 months later, the veteran started employment yesterday and looks like a totally different person than he did 3 months ago. His path to success is not over and NXTStep Vets is not over with him yet. The goal is for him to be in such a positive place that he could become a mentor for those that have come into the same situation that he was in. I want to thank everyone that continues to help the cause. NXTSTEP Vets was not designed to run on its own but to draw in the many programs available to veterans while offering mentorship and guidance. VSO's stay overworked and there are just never enough of them, let alone allow them to spend the time needed to bring some out of the darkest holes. Thank You Brad Bentley Mike Milam, Roger Fair Adam Rocke Chris Gibson Sarah Lee for believing in what we are doing and for being a mentor to NXTStep Vets

As we deal with this continuing storm, I reflect back on the good we have done. We are currently housing 3 different veterans that were homeless in the Cincinnati area. Imagine if we didn’t step in and they didn’t make it to a shelter? Not only are we getting close to 12” of snow today but also single digit temps over the next few days. It’s just a reminder that our mission is an important one and must go on!!!

As I sit here today gathering our 2024 financials, I wanted to share a snapshot of our first 6 months. $19,483.15 raised in our first 6 months. I look forward to what 2025 will have in store for NXTStep Vets. Don't forget to visit us at nxtstepvets.org and go to the shop for a chance at our 1st Qtr raffle item. 25% of our funds came from raffle items in our first 5 months.

***HOT NEWS ALERT**** Be the first to purchase tickets for this gorgeous Henry .4570 Golden Boy. Help us get to all 250 tickets sold! Benefits from the raffle go towards helping unemployed veterans get back on their feet. https://lnkd.in/guXvkpJK