Veterans and military service members make up a large part of Virginia’s population. While transitioning back to civilian life, many veterans struggle to find the local resources they need to fully understand their benefits, find jobs and overcome any obstacles.
Thankfully, there are motivated people with big ideas working hard to fix that. The Veteran Community Network of Central Virginia and the Chimney Trail Foundation are working tirelessly to provide veterans and military service members with the resources they need to be successful and thrive.
VCNCV: Providing a Vast Network of Help for Veterans
The Veteran Community Network of Central Virginia was founded by 28-year Navy Veteran John Maxwell. During his time working for the Virginia Department of Veterans Services, he learned that, while there are many state and federal programs to help veterans, community-level resources were lacking support and engagement.
After witnessing other community organizations across the state achieving the goals he had for his own community, Maxwell decided to start the VCNCV.
Maxwell created the organization in hopes of providing veterans and service members with all the tools they need to be the best they can be, as well as building an informed and supportive community. Maxwell shared that there are two big goals for the organization: to connect veterans with resources locally and work with partners to identify and fill gaps in veteran services.
While the VCNCV opens its doors to any veteran, military family or active service member, the organization primarily supports veterans who are homeless, in transition to civilian life and seeking mental health resources. It works with these groups to understand benefits, navigate employment, eradicate homelessness and improve physical and mental health. There is a network of people to help guide them every step of the way.
The organization also hosts a mentorship program that connects veterans and transitioning service members with mentors who have been in their shoes to lead them through the difficulties of a post-military life.
The VCNCV utilizes a wide range of partners and contacts to address problems, no matter how niche. The more than 60 partners it taps include other nonprofit organizations, businesses, government services and individual advocates.
“Everyone brings a different skill or talent,” Maxwell said. “That’s how we solve these lists of problems.”
It can sometimes be very difficult for veterans to find the resources they need on their own, especially when they are faced with a very specific issue. The resources are all there; it’s just a matter of understanding how to access them.
“It’s a lot of problem solving,” Maxwell said. “When you see these problems getting solved, it’s incredibly rewarding.”
The VCNCV hosts and attends job and resource fairs to help connect veterans with employment opportunities. They also host educational panels and quarterly in-person meetings with partners to discuss goals and tactics.
“If you come across a veteran or veteran family and you’re not sure how to help them, just give us a call or send us a note, and we will find a way to help them,” Maxwell said.
Chimney Trail Foundation: Rebuilding Veteran Camaraderie
Similarly to the VCNCV, the Chimney Trail Foundation fills a local resource gap for veterans in Virginia.
Founder Claudia Flores served in the U.S. Navy for 28 years, too. Her deep understanding of the difficulties of transitioning out of the military into civilian life inspired the creation of the Chimney Trail Foundation in 2023. Flores found that applying her military skills to civilian jobs was difficult, and civilian culture was drastically different from what she experienced in the military.
“There’s a lot of teamwork and camaraderie in military culture,” Flores said. “Civilian culture can be much more individualistic.”
The Chimney Trail Foundation focuses on rebuilding the camaraderie that veterans and service members are missing from their military life. It aims to uplift the veteran community and support transitions, particularly for the younger generation of veterans who aren’t connecting with longstanding institutions like the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign War.
Working in the military often provides a deep sense of purpose for many people, and it’s important for veterans to feel like they are a part of something in their civilian life. This organization works with veterans to make sure they don’t feel anonymous in the workplace.
“Veterans are used to purpose and mission in the military,” Flores said. “That’s what they’re also looking for in the civilian sector.”
The Chimney Trail Foundation partners with civilian organizations, businesses and professionals to host events and build a large network of resources for veterans. It is always looking for more partners to connect with, as well as volunteers and board members.
The organization also offers a mentorship program that connects veterans with civilians in their area of chosen skill or interest. Many veterans do not want to do the same job they did in the military, so working with a mentor to help them find jobs or develop skills is very helpful during a transition out of the military.
Building a Supportive and Understanding Community
One of the biggest keys to supporting veterans is building an educated and supportive community. Understanding the lives and experiences of veterans can be difficult for those not in the military, but that understanding is what will bring us together to thrive.
Veterans are often misunderstood by civilians, as they have unique and sometimes life-changing experiences in the military.
“My biggest message to people is that not all veterans are broken,” Flores said. “There are some that struggle and deserve help, but we’re not all broken.”
It is important for non-military members to feel confident in understanding what to do if a veteran is struggling. Just asking questions and starting conversations can go a long way. There are many educational resources available for civilians to learn more about veterans and military life. Both the VCNCV and the Chimney Trail Foundation can connect civilians with the resources they need to be supportive community members for veterans.
“I think it’s always positive when people have discussion and try to understand one another,” Flores said. “There’s always a lot of value in that.”
Maxwell and Flores both urge civilian community members to do their part, educate themselves and get to know their veteran neighbors — it can make transitions and adjusting much easier for veterans.
“We all need to focus on what we have in common, not what divides us,” Flores said.
For more information or to get involved with these organizations, visit https://www.vcncentralvirginia.org/ and https://www.chimneytrailfoundation.org/ .
