Farmer Veteran Coalition would like to thank all of our donors for the support they have given our fledgling organization. As a result of their donations, we have been able to open our office in Davis. We finally have a place for people to come to us and ask questions and to hold meetings. A place where everyone feels welcome. We have made real progress in our work of connecting our returning veterans with opportunities for employment, training and places to heal on America’s farms. We have been able to help veterans like Sam, tanned and dirty from a long day’s work. Beaming with happiness when he hopped out of his farm pick-up truck. “I cannot thank you people enough,” he said, looking over his shoulder at the long rows of trellised grapes. “There is something really special about working out here.” Sam is twenty-four and left the Army Rangers in February. In less than two weeks of his departure, the Farmer-Veteran Coalition got him a well paying job working in a vineyard. He’s driving tractor, running irrigation systems, and learning grape production..
Again, thanks to the following for their support!
Iraq Afghanistan Impact Deployment Fund (IAIDF) of the California Community Foundation
And to our many individual donors: thanks!! Without you all, we would not be where we are today. Together, we can strengthen our country’s farms while positively impacting the lives of our transitioning young veterans.
Two million Americans will have returned from military service between 9/11/2001 and the end of this year. Many of these young men and women face difficult challenges transitioning from military service to the civilian workforce. A survey conducted by the Veterans Affairs Department in 2005, before the economic downturn, found that almost 25% of them were unemployed or underemployed. According to the same report, half of the young vets that were employed were making less than $25,000 a year.
Our industry needs these young men and women! They know hard work. They respect discipline. They’ve learned leadership. We can assist them in their transition into civilian life while assuring that we have a strong and talented group of individuals that will lead our farms and food businesses into the future.
To become one of our supporters, click on the donation link and select “Farmer Veteran Coalition” from the list of projects.
