Shelter To Soldier: Women Veterans Fair

Shelter to Soldier to Host Inaugural Women Veterans Fair in collaboration with San Diego Women Veterans Network

By Eva M. Stimson

Shelter to Soldier (STS) is a California-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to helping post-9/11 veterans overcome psychological wounds by providing trained service dogs free of charge. STS is committed to serving veterans who suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and/or Military Sexual Trauma (MST). STS, in partnership with San Diego Women Veterans Network, will be hosting their

Inaugural Women Veteran’s Fair on November 6,

2022 at the Mission Beach Women’s Club, located

at 840 Santa Clara Place, San Diego, CA 92109 from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm.

The event is dedicated to celebrating female veterans while providing them resources from community programs and organizations to help them thrive. Guests will enjoy small bites, giveaways, optional mini facials and brows from KAT Beauty, and camaraderie as well as fun activities at this waterfront venue. Contact kyrie@ sheltertosoldier.org to reserve an exhibitor space or for more information to attend as a guest.

According to Kyrie’ Bloem, Vice President of Shelter to Soldier, “Shelter to Soldier Women Veterans Fair is a new and important community, non-fundraising event that brings together organizations that serve female veterans in the region to provide them with resources related to mental health, well-being, housing assistance, education, family support and more. This event will be held annually in November, and the goal is to connect veterans with community partners and support services available in our region.”

Tommy Moore, STS Community and Veteran Outreach Representative elaborates, “The San Diego Women Veterans Network (SDWVN) supports belonging and community for women veterans…they also engage service providers for women veterans through collaboration and they have established a network of support for women veterans in San Diego County. The number one request of female veterans is to meet and engage with other female veterans --- the STS program addresses those needs through this inaugural event.

In addition to the San Diego Women’s Veteran Network under the guidance of Founder, Billie Kai, we have support from a variety of vendors for the November 6th event that include the Mission Beach Women’s Club, Red White and Badass Brew, Dr. Jen, KAT Beauty, Chula Vista Vet Center, Griffin Funding, and Team Red White and Blue (Team RWB).”

During the event, the Shelter to Soldier Canine Ambassadors Therapy Dog Team will engage with guests, providing love and comfort to active-duty military, veterans and their families. This specialized team has effectively broadened the program’s reach to larger populations of military and veterans in the region.

Shelter to Soldier stands committed to serving veterans throughout Southern California through their psychiatric service dog, emotional support animal, and therapy dog programs, and hopes to raise awareness for veterans’ mental health. In early 2022, the Shelter to Soldier Board of Directors moved to include Military Sexual Trauma (MST) as a qualifying diagnosis as part of the application criteria for their programs, not just combat-related mental health diagnoses as STS had operated in the past.

By expanding the STS program to include veterans who have experienced MST, STS has seen an increase in applicants in need of a support animal and it is expected that this trend will continue. In collaboration with dedicated partners, community members and ongoing philanthropic efforts, STS remains focused and committed to increasing awareness for the prevalence of MST in military veterans; STS has pledged to serve as a conduit to ensure these survivors are able to thrive in their personal lives after military service.

MST survivors located in Southern California who have been recommended a service dog or emotional support animal are encouraged to reach out for support through the Shelter to Soldier program by visiting their website www.sheltertosoldier.org.

The non-profit mission of Shelter to Soldier (STS) is to adopt dogs from local shelters and rescue organizations, and then train them to become psychiatric service dogs for post-9/11 veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and/or Military Sexual Trauma (MST).

The non-profit mission of Shelter to Soldier (STS) is to adopt dogs from local shelters and rescue organizations, and then train them to become psychiatric service dogs for post-9/11 veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and/or Military Sexual Trauma (MST).

The program also provides emotional support animals to active military and veterans, and deploys their STS Canine Ambassadors therapy dog team to provide visits of love and support to local military, veterans and their families. On average, 20 US veterans commit suicide every day and approximately 1,800 dogs are euthanized. These staggering statistics inspire the entire STS team to do all they can do to support those served by the STS program, both canine and human Saving Lives, Two at a Time.”™

Visit www.sheltertosoldier.org. To learn more about veteran-support services provided by STS, call 760-870-5338 for a confidential interview regarding eligibility.