The Jacksonville-based Wounded Warrior Project nonprofit it’s making about 40,000 phone calls to support veterans amid the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and the country’s takeover by the Taliban.
The calls are meant to remind veterans they're not alone and connect them and their families to resources, especially in mental health.
“The last week has really elicited a range of emotions among veterans who have served in Afghanistan. I think top of the list is concern,” said Wounded Warrior Project CEO, Lt. Gen. (ret) Mike Linnington. “Concern for their brothers and sisters in arms that served with them, concern for the Afghan partners that they served with, and made lifelong commitments to, and really concern for the future of Afghanistan. I also think there's a bit of sadness or disappointment.”
Founded in 2003, the Wounded Warrior Project offers free services in mental health, career counseling, and long-term rehabilitative care for veterans of post-9/11 wars.
The Wounded Warrior Project’s resource center and its mental health triage team are available 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday at 888-WWP-ALUM (888-997-2586).
Contact Sydney Boles at sboles@wjct.org, or on Twitter at@sydneyboles.