NH Veterans Count
About Veterans Count
Our Mission
Veterans Count, the philanthropic arm of Easterseals Military & Veterans Services (MVS), provides critical and timely financial assistance and services when no other resource is available to service members, veterans and their families, to ensure their dignity, health and overall well-being.
We continue to ensure that 90% of net dollars raised for Veterans Count is spent to provide services and grow resources for NH service members, veterans and their families.
Our Story
It Began with this Question: “How Can We Help Service Members and Their Families?”
Veterans Count was conceived in 2007 when Easterseals’ NH Board Member, Mike Salter sought to bring comprehensive, emergency aid to veterans and their families whose quality of life was significantly impacted by deployment to war zones.
A veteran of the US Army Special Forces, Mike and the Easterseals NH President and CEO, Larry Gammon, approached the NH Joint Force Headquarters (NH National Guard) and the NH Department of Health and Human Services for assistance in designing a compassionate, responsive, highly-targeted care program for veterans and their families who were “falling through the cracks,” as a result of service to their country.
Easterseals developed a Care Coordination model centered on highly skilled clinicians meeting one-on-one with service members and their families to address critical issues while building trust and working toward developing long-term self-sufficiency. Care Coordinators met the immediate presenting needs such as food, shelter, transportation and mental health intervention. Once a trusting relationship was established, Care Coordinators were then able to address deeper issues such as Post Traumatic Stress, sustainable employment, and long-term housing.
Critical to the services provided by Care Coordinators were the philanthropic funds, which directly address emergency needs while providing a conduit for Care Coordinators to assist service members and veterans with more chronic and entrenched challenges.
As Easterseals Military & Veterans Services began to execute its mission, it became clear that more community assistance and fundraising was needed to provide adequate aid. Federal, local and national grants provided for the training and services of Care Coordinators. Yet, the need for additional funding for basic necessities such as food, clothing, housing, etc. was apparent. A task force comprised of business leaders was developed and Veterans Count was formed.
Veterans Count has received the highest praise and support from our national and local elected officials and is viewed as a comprehensive and successful model being emulated throughout the country. As more and more service members and their families continue to struggle with the challenges of multiple deployments, the need to provide support continues to grow.
Since inception, more than 14,800 individuals have been served. Philanthropic dollars, totaling more than $3.8 million, have been distributed to provide financial support that may include food, utilities, housing, transportation, fuel, and vehicle repair.
Significant Outcomes to Date as of July 2019
6,638 service members, veterans and their families (14,856 individuals) have been served
Care Coordinators have intervened in 119 cases of significant suicide risk
Homelessness has been prevented for 1,531 families at risk of foreclosure or eviction, and an additional 1,112 families have received Care Coordination services that addressed housing stability
2,463 individuals were successfully engaged in treatment for mental health or adjustment problems
23,408 referrals have been made to community and military resources
1,313 program participants have obtained employment
Emergency financial assistance provided by Easterseals Military & Veterans Services through Veterans Count for July 2019
$6,319 was spent on transportation or car repairs
$1,200 was spent on food and/or grocery gift cards
$200 was spent on medical expenses not covered by insurance
$2,881 was spent on emergency dental services
$3,562 was spent on mortgage payments to prevent foreclosure
$9,681 was spent on rent payments to landlords
$3,283 was spent on utilities such as electricity, heating fuel, water, phone, sewer, etc.
$6,010 was spent on other miscellaneous expenses
$33,136 is the total emergency financial assistance released to NH service members, veterans and their families
To learn more please contact us.