branching out A N EW L EA F 2017 F A L L IS S U E
Rodney reaches a turn in the road
3 SIMPLE WAYS TO HELP VETERANS
KNOW THE SIGNS OF PTSD
AWEE JOINS A NEW LEAF
a turn in the road erched in the cab of his truck on the wide-open road, it sometimes occurs to Rodney just how far he has traveled. A few years back, he was down and out after a bout with drugs and alcohol cost him his marriage, his livelihood and cast his future in doubt. “I was drinking and drugging,” he recalled. “Things just got out of control, and I lost my wife of 24 years.” He left Milwaukee and traveled to Arizona in 2013 with all he had left – just $1,500. He spiraled further down, as he lived in a party house with a friend he had met on Facebook. His drinking and drugging continued. “They finally put me out when I ran out of money. They were just using me.”
“I was drinking and drugging,” he recalled. “Things just got out of control.”
renovated 19-unit supportive housing complex serves families and individuals experiencing homelessness, domestic violence or severe mental illness, particularly veterans. The goal is to protect residents from falling back into homelessness. Slowly, but surely, with lots of help from A New Leaf’s staff, Rodney began to put the pieces of his life back together. The staff truly understood the stresses and health challenges facing veterans like Rodney. Through assistance with meals, housing, financial coaching, and jobs, they have provided a community of support. It’s anything from counseling to a ride to a grocery store to help writing a resume. “Desert Leaf is a stepping-stone,” Rodney said. “It is geared to get you on the way to where you need to go. There’s probably eight or nine staff people on that list that I have to thank.” He singled out the property manager Sharon. “If it was anything to do with paperwork for housing, she made sure it was in on time. If there were classes I had to go to, she would come knock on my door. She saw that I wanted to do better.”
He fell even further, winding up in a downtown Phoenix homeless shelter. It was a frightening place.
Rodney had quit drinking and using drugs by the time he got to Desert Leaf. But he still faced an array of challenges before he could get back on his feet.
“That was the lowest, the bottom of the barrel,” he recalled feeling at the time. He would soon realize then he had nowhere to go but up.
He had lost his commercial driving license after a knee injury from his Army service forced him to quit driving.
The turning point began when Rodney entered A New Leaf’s Desert Leaf Apartments in Mesa. This recently
A New Leaf social worker named Tammy drove him on the two-hour trip to a Motor Vehicle Department CDL test facility. He passed.
three simple ways to help veterans ven though most of us will never serve in the military or fight a war to defend our country, there are countless ways to honor these brave men and women who sacrifice so much. Many of them suffer from physical ailments and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which makes for a difficult return to civilian life.
here are three simple things you can do to help a veteran today: 1. GIVE VETERANS A HOME. Join the Phoenix Stand Down program to provide food and clothing to veterans living on the streets. You can also support A New Leaf’s shelters, which aid veterans who are homeless so they can have safe, supportive housing and get back on their feet.
And so, Rodney has been back in an 18-wheeler for a year, doing work that brings him great satisfaction. A little more than a year ago, Rodney took a final step toward independence, buying a house southeast of Phoenix. Perhaps just as important, he made a deliberate change in the people he associated with, going to a local Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) hall where he would rub shoulders with aldermen, doctors and other professionals.
And so, Rodney has been back in an 18-wheeler for a year, doing work that brings him great satisfaction.
2. SEND A CARE PACKAGE OR LETTER. You can write a letter of thanks to veterans through Operation Gratitude, which has sent more than 1.5 million letters and care packages to the military community. It’s a small gesture that makes a big impact in the lives of veterans.
3. SAY THANK YOU. It is simple, but it can make a huge difference. So many veterans have never heard the words “thank you for your service.” When you see someone in uniform or encounter a veteran, express your gratitude and the day will be brighter for you both.
Their close relationship prompted Rodney to rethink his trucking schedule. He switched from his former employer – where he was gone three weeks at a time and to all 48 states – to a regional carrier so that he’s away from home no more than two weeks at a time. Looking back, Rodney realizes that A New Leaf is the right place for those who want to change. “A New Leaf is a helping hand. There are people there who will help you, but you got to want it, too. They open up the door for you. But you have to walk through it.” Rodney considers himself blessed in more ways than one. “Every morning I think about where I was and I say a prayer. I thank God for allowing me to rise this morning and for all the good things I’ll do today.”
It was there he also met “a wonderful girl,” a surgical technician named Colleen. They plan to marry next year.
Questions? Call us at (480) 464-4648 or visit TurnaNewLeaf.org
Know the Signs of PTSD If you are a veteran or know someone who is, be aware of the signs of PTSD. This condition has a very harmful effect on the lives of veterans and their families. The stresses of military life build up and seep into civilian activities. Some veterans experience depression, hopelessness and
numbness – impeding their work and relationships.
Signs include nightmares, insomnia, social isolation, hyperactivity, irritability, panic and lack of concentration. These symptoms can last for many years and can be very debilitating. Treatment is possible through trauma-focused therapy and specific medication, along with healthful interventions. For more information, you can contact your Department of Veterans Affairs office or go to ptsd.va.gov.
you inspire us national philanthropy day A New Leaf is proud to recognize two of our beloved contributors during National Philanthropy Day. Frank and Barbara Bennett, along with Fiesta Bowl Charities, will receive awards from the Greater Arizona Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP). The Bennetts will be honored with the Spirit of Philanthropy Award for their generous support and volunteer work at A New Leaf over a span of five decades. Frank’s mother, Dorothy Mitchell, was one of the founders of A New Leaf in 1971. The Bennetts have played a monumental role in building a culture of philanthropy at A New Leaf,
extending to their own network of friends, business partners, colleagues and family. Their legacy has been key to the growth of our programs and services to clients. Fiesta Bowl Charities will receive the AFP Leadership Award as the Valley’s Corporate Donor of the Year. This bighearted organization utilizes its extensive public reach as host of the Fiesta Bowl to invest in numerous community programs and public initiatives. The support of Fiesta Bowl Charities has been critical to A New Leaf, impacting the success of our programs and improving the lives of vulnerable children and families with a fresh start. Our warm congratulations to these inspiring supporters!
joining forces “We are thrilled that AWEE will be a critical part of our life-saving programs,” said Brad Snyder, chair of the board for A New Leaf. “We are united in advocating and supporting individuals and families in their path to upward mobility. Together, we are undertaking an exciting new chapter.”
A New Leaf is excited to have Arizona Women’s Education and Employment (AWEE) join our organization. As a leading provider for employment assistance in Central Arizona, AWEE connects local men and women to better jobs so they can have better tomorrows. AWEE’s partnership with A New Leaf will help even more people overcome poverty and improve their lives through stable employment.
AWEE has helped transform the lives of more than 200,000 individuals through programs such as CLASS: Career Ladders Achieving Success and Security, Women Living Free, BankWork$, Women’s Business Center and SheLEADS.
2017 fiscal year outcomes 24,275
2,613
5,585
Individuals served in programs
people helped by housing services
people helped by health services
366,524 meals provided annually
20,492
calls received by crisis line
3,953
people volunteered
7,372
people helped by community services
8,354
people helped by domestic violence services
91,631
nights of shelter provided
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