Healing Tools for Warriors

Every Day is PTSD Awareness Day on My Calendar

By Penny Pinkham

Founder Penny Pinkham.

Healing Tools for Warrior (HTFW) was born in 2009 out of a desire to help not only our wounded Veterans, but also their caregivers (aka Battle Buddies). After watching my three sons struggle daily with PTSD and TBI, I wanted to find a way to help ease their burden and the burdens of others who suffered as they do.

Our mission at HTFW is to provide a safe and supportive gathering place that connects Veterans with community organizations and local businesses. In association with God’s Way Ministries, we bring resources and help that can aid in the healing process and enhance their ability to perform daily activities. This includes providing them with information on local programs, jobs, and volunteer opportunities. The goal is to restore their sense of purpose and enable them to work past medical limitations.

Part of our vision is to provide free retreats that foster relationship-building between wounded warriors and the community. This year’s retreat is scheduled for October at Camp Timpoochee, in Niceville, Florida. The camp’s personnel were most accommodating hosts during our event there in 2017.

At the retreat, participating Veterans will be introduced to organizations that foster the healing process. Typically, charitable groups such as Float Brothers, Healing Paws for Warriors, and Heroes on the Water are represented. This year, speakers will provide information on jobs and opportunities and encourage positive motivation. A voluntary daily devotional will offer focus to start off the day, with nightly campfires providing shared downtime at end of day.

Army Veteran Noah Jimenez, from Nashville, Tennessee, will be the guest speaker. A medic who was wounded, he will talk about the healing therapy of writing and playing music. And the Saturday night barbecue dinner will bring together the past weeks’ attendees with the incoming group.

HTFW also raises PTSD and TBI awareness and funds through an annual auction in March called the “Redneck

Rendezvous.” All auction items are crafted by wounded warriors or donated. We follow this with a wing-eating contest at 4C BBQ in DeFuniak Springs, Florida. Bringing Veterans together with locals to enjoy a day of fun and flexing their mandible muscles, this event, too, raises awareness and funds for our wounded warriors.

A yearly legislative round table meeting is scheduled where Veterans will have an opportunity to have open discussions with our local political leaders. This allows them to not only have a voice, but also to have an opportunity to lobby for changes that really work for all wounded warriors.

HTFW schedules other gatherings that help foster friendships that have developed throughout the year. This includes birthday parties and a sponsored deer hunt. To help conquer the feelings of isolation and depression is to help speed recovery for those who have suffered.

It is sometimes told that, when asked, “What does it mean to a warrior to know the community supports them?” the warrior, after a pensive pause, replies, “Everything.”

As a Mom/Battle Buddy, I see the scars and invisible wounds that, through support, resources, patience, and love, we can help heal. Thank you so much to all who care and help by getting involved!

Penny with a fellow Veteran supporter. A gathering of committed HTFW supporters.