Community Corner

USM Students Raise More Than $1,000 to Support Veterans

Proceeds from fundraising effort goes to Dryhootch, which provides a place where veterans can share stories over coffee or get help from a wide variety of support groups.

It wasn’t your typical American history class.

After hearing Army veteran Tom Voss share his story from Operation Iraqi Freedom, the room full of eighth-grade history students at the University School of Milwaukee asked him questions about whether he ever had to use his weapon, how he views Muslim-Americans and the impact of post-traumatic stress disorder on his fellow soldiers.

USM American history teacher Chuck Taft, of Whitefish Bay, believes history can never be understood until you hear from those directly involved. Not only did they listen to Voss' story, but they also took action, by selling patriotic bracelets and baked sales to raise more than $1,000 for Dryhootch, the Brady Street coffee shop and veteran support center where Voss works.

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After hearing the presentation, about 30 USM students and parents also decided to help the organization’s cause by participating in a 5k run, the Dryhootch Warrior Spirit 5k, which will raise funds for a $30,000 elevator lift that will transport veterans in wheelchairs to the support group room on the second floor of the building. The event will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday at the Milwaukee War Memorial, 750 N. Lincoln Memorial Drive, with registration beginning at 7 a.m.

“We want our kids to do more than just raise money,” Taft said. “For us, this is about service, but also about connecting service and learning together.”

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Voss said speaking to groups in the community, as well as having community members gather in the coffee shop is an essential part of bridging the gap between veterans and the rest of the community.

"One of the things we're trying to do is to reach out to the community and talk about what we went through and why some of this stuff is happening to us," he said. "It's pretty lonely when you come back after experiencing war, and you find yourself in a minority, in a sea of people.

"The connection that you make in the military is so strong, and it's almost traumatic to be separated from that when you go back home," Voss added. "You have to relearn how to act in society almost. It can be really difficult."

The Pentagon estimates 20 percent of returning Iraq and Afghanistan veterans have PTSD. About one-third of veterans seeking treatment for substance abuse also meet criteria for PTSD, according to the Department of Veteran Affairs. More than 900 Wisconsin veterans have committed suicide since 2001, according to the Wisconsin State Journal.

To help the rehabilitation process, Dryhootch offers a wide variety of support groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Suicide Survivors, Coping in Sobriety and Veterans Over 60. The support groups are for veterans and led by veterans.

"One of the things we stress is the comfort level of a non-clinical setting where veterans can come to share their stories that another veteran most likely has experienced," Voss said.

Dryhootch was started in 2008 by a group of Vietnam veterans who wanted to help the Iraq and Afghanistan generation of vets with reintegration issues, in addition to helping vets from all eras. Starting out with a coffee tent on the grounds of the Zablocki VA hospital, then operating out of an outreach truck, the group found its first real home at 1030 E. Brady St. last year. There is also a Dryhootch location in Waukesha, and the organization also plans to expand to Madison and Chicago.

Unlike the VFW or American Legion, the organization receives its money from grants and donations to provide free services for any veteran who walks through the doors. You will not find any uniforms, ranking officers or presence in local parades.

"We try to make it as far from the military as possible," Voss said.

Why the name Dryhootch? The word "hootch" is military slang for booze, and Voss said veterans have historically drank alcohol when they talk about their experiences.

"We want to take alcohol out of the conversation. That's a way of covering up the actual issues," Voss said. "Dryhootch is a place where veterans can come and share their experiences in a safe, sober environment."

To learn more about Dryhootch, you can also follow them on Facebook and Twitter.


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