Helping Veterans In Need

COLUMBUS, Miss.(WCBI) – Serving those who’ve dedicated their lives to serving others.

That’s the goal of one local foundation, working to make a difference in the lives of Veterans in the area .

“Just whatever they need is we try very diligently to address it,”said Richard Holmes Foundation CEO Judie Holmes.

Holmes experienced the lose of her son after his service in the Army.

“Our son was an eight year Army Veteran who suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and that kind of morphed into a substance abuse. On July 29, 2011, he succumb to a drug overdose. After we lost him it became very obvious to me, I began doing a lot of research on military and substance abuse. The numbers were just absolutely staggering, on the number of PTSD Service People that we have when they leave the military and subsequent to that the numbers are even more staggering when you’re looking at suicide among veterans,’said Holmes.

After that experience Holmes says she couldn’t just sit by and allow what happened to her son happen to other veterans. That’s when the Foundation was formed.

“The inception date was November 11th 2011 and we’ve actually serviced the area of Noxubee County Oktibbeha County Clay and Lowndes County For the past five years.

Sarah Wells is a member of the foundation out of Noxubee County. She says it’s a much needed help to her area.

“The V.A. system is a good system but they’re not always a timely system. So sometimes other services are needed. We see the need for: financial assistance, medication, even sometimes transportation because in this area we have a lot of older veterans,”said said Wells.

Holmes says the foundation is accomplishing it’s short term goal which is continuing the service to the area.

In the long run she wants to expand the reach of service.

“Do you have a first class world class facility for veterans which will include services for those who perhaps have a substance abuse addiction problem all the way through after care and family counseling a world class facility that our heroes are so deserving of” >