I'm a full-time caregiver. I resigned my position at school because my husband needed my support at home. We were fortunate that he could come to work with me and offer his services as a volunteer so that I could keep an eye on him and not leave him home alone. It was a quick fix, and while he still volunteers when he is able, taking him to work with me was not a long term solution.
Yes, I'm at home. But guess what? I am working. Not only am I providing 24 hour support for my husband, I am the Volunteer Coordinator for Family Of a Vet, an AMAZING non-profit organization that is working tirelessly for veterans and familes. FOV currently has almost 250 Grassroots Volunteers. Through our website, facebook page, and social media we reach tens of thousands of people each month! I am on call around the clock to provide support and resources for our members. The past two months have been filled with late FOV nights, and busy days. Here is a run-down of what I do:
- advocate for veterans and families
- locate and provide resources
- research
- moderate group rooms online
- offer ongoing support to our members online and through email and phone calls
- manage the "virtual" volunteer database
- coordinate and host the weekly Caregiver's Edition of our Life After Combat Blog Talk Radio Show
- coordinate with staff on projects including our blogs, fundraising, website, networking
- use social media to raise awareness of veterans issues
I may not be working in the conventional sense, but I'm making a difference in the lives of veterans and families. I am providing the support I wish I'd had six years ago when we started this crazy roller coaster life of uncertainty.
You may think I'm just goofing off, but actually facebook is my office. Family Of a Vet is a non-profit run by veterans and family members who *GET IT* and are trying to reach out to others who are struggling like us to help and offer support and education.
Shared by Family Of a Vet, Inc., a national non-profit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to helping veterans and their families learn how to cope with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), TBI (traumatic brain injury) and life after combat through real-world, plain language education and resources for heroes, families, and communities.
If you know a veteran or loved one that we can help, please encourage them to visit us:
One the web - www.familyofavet.com
On facebook - www.facebook.com/lifeaftercombat
On Twitter - www.twitter.com/familyofavet
On our blog - http://blog.familyofavet.com/
On Blog Talk Radio - www.blogtalkradio.com/familyofavet
On YouTube - www.youtube.com/familyofavet
