Esterholt Veterans Support Group

The Esterholt Veterans Support Group is an informal group organized by members of the local Veterans Association and Veterans of Foreign Wars posts in order to fill a void left by inadequate government funding and the stigma surrounding mental health discussions. The group meets weekly in the meeting hall of the town's Episcopal church, and members contribute by donating money and bringing food and beverages to meetings.
The group has an unofficial mascot in member Cornelius Kavanaugh's dog Max, who is known to leave home and find other members of the group who may have had a bad time in that week's meeting. Max also generally lifts the spirits of all present and is widely recognized as "best dog".

Structure

The support group operates on an incredibly flat team structure with a special emphasis on members being able to support one another and lift each other up. There is no designated leader, but some members are more able to arrange meetings and provide material support than others.

Culture

Members strive to create an open and accepting environment, offer resources to members who are struggling, and listen openly when individual members share their experiences, nightmares, struggles at home, etc. Listeners focus both on providing an ear and offering practical solutions to problems as applicable. Max in particular has his own method of supporting others, by visiting them at home or giving them particular attention during meetings.

Public Agenda

The support group's primary goal is to offer support to local veterans, including material and practical advice, emotional support, therapeutic resources, and so on.

Type

Social, Group

Location

Esterholt, Ohio