Military and Veteran Services Collaborates with the Wounded Warrior Project
On Friday, Jan. 16, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Military and Veteran Services (MAVS) partnered with The Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) to provide resources to veterans at a Southern Illinois Veterans Lunch. The WWP is recognized as one of the nation’s leading veteran’s organizations, freely assisting post 9/11 wounded, ill, injured veterans and their families to improve their well-being after military service.
Rachel McMillin, Chicago Outreach Specialist for WWP, visited campus for a veterans’ lunch to inform the local community about the organization's services. Speaking to a full room of veterans and their families, McMillin spoke about how WWP offers support in mental health, career counseling, caregiver assistance, advocacy and community engagement.
Telisha Reinhardt, assistant director of Military and Veteran Services, met McMillin at a veteran resource fair last spring and sought to introduce WWP to the southern Illinois region.
“I had heard of the Wounded Warrior Project for years, but I have never known them to have a presence in the southern region of Illinois,” said Reinhardt. “When Rachel reached out to me last fall, she said she wanted to change that. She wanted to get more involved in the veteran communities here and I was all for it.”
At the Southern Illinois Veterans Lunch, attendees enjoyed a complimentary meal sponsored by the WWP and connected with other area veterans. Other local organizations were invited and representatives from a variety of veteran and servicemember resources also attended, including the Missouri Veterans Commission, Illinois Joining Forces, The Vet Center, Centerstone, The American Red Cross and the Madison County Veterans Assistance Commission.
To learn more about the Wounded Warrior Project, visit their website at woundedwarriorproject.org.
Photos by Howard Ash.
