Virtual café provides sense of community for veterans - cleveland.com

takanadalagi.blogspot.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Veterans of all ages and branches can share their thoughts, stories and experiences at the upcoming Virtual Veterans’ Café, which takes place at 3 p.m. Thursday, May 27.

Hospice of the Western Reserve hosts the free public forum, though veterans do not need to have any association with Hospice to participate.

To register for the virtual session or for further information, email Nate Gradisher, provider relations manager and chair of the organization’s Peaceful and Proud Committee for veterans, at ngradisher@hospicewr.org.

“It will be easy to participate,” noted Gradisher. “We’ll use a video conferencing tool similar to Zoom that allows everyone to see or hear the other participants. We will email veterans who register a link, and on May 27 at 3 p.m. they will simply click on that link to enter the conversation.”

The virtual gatherings for vets began nine months ago as the coronavirus pandemic lingered. The hope is to eventually have in-person meetings, though the monthly remote offerings have continued to grow in popularity.

“It’s certainly something that’s really taken on a life of its own and has become very popular with the veterans community,” said Gradisher. “It’s an ideal opportunity for veterans and their families and caregivers to engage in dialogue.”

The upcoming virtual café holds particular significance, since it will occur just days before Memorial Day. The moderator will be Vanessa Smylie, Western Reserve Grief Services bereavement coordinator. “Trauma champions” from Hospice of the Western Reserve will also be available.

The open, unstructured format is meant to encourage discussion of the ways in which veterans remember and honor those with whom they served, certain situations that trigger difficult memories, strategies to cope with grief and any other topic that is on the minds of participants.

Gradisher also encourages veterans service organizations to join the conversation, since the forums provide an ideal opportunity to discuss the needs of vets.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity for veterans of all types to engage with one another and share stories. The veteran-to-veteran connection is really unmatched and unmatchable. There’s nothing like it,” concluded Gradisher.

Why not get out your cellphone, laptop, iPad or other device and add your voice to the conversation as one more meaningful act of service to your fellow veterans, as well as yourself?

Adblock test (Why?)

"cafe" - Google News
May 16, 2021 at 10:53PM
https://ift.tt/3yowd9R

Virtual café provides sense of community for veterans - cleveland.com
"cafe" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2FkbMR3
https://ift.tt/3c4yPxW