Josie
Monaghan holding forth at her downtown Antioch Veterans Thrift Shop
Frustrated by the VA's failure to provide ample community based
veterans support ~ Blue star mother, Josie Monaghan, has taken the bull by the
horns and with the help of a band of committed local citizens has created a
heart centered East County veteran's drop in center, in Northern California, to
provide needed recreation as well as emotional support and counseling to our
returning veterans: Allen L Roland
Fed
up with the VA's in the box fixed thinking and bureaucratic inertia, as well as
the rising rate of Veterans suicide ~ about 20 members of the East County
Military Family and Friends ( ECMFF ) along with about 250 supporters ~ all
drawn together by heart centered chords of love, pride and compassion ~ created
in 2010 a new alternative for returning veterans and their families with the
ultimate goal of a drop-in recreation center where workshops and peer to peer
events could take place at any time.
Originally
located in a small veterans thrift shop in downtown Antioch, California the rapidly growing non-profit organization now
includes an adjacent veterans antique store as well as a recently leased
veterans recreation center ~ which will provide a space for workshops and
informal peer to peer events with the full support of the Antioch city council.
The
guiding light or Vet blue star angel mother behind this working dream is Josie
Monaghan ~ whose vision, relentless energy and giant heart has drawn others,
such as myself, to volunteer their services to help make her East County
Veterans heart centered dream come true.
According
to Josie, her dream is still a work in progress. As each day passes, the old
thrift store becomes more like a home where
miracles materialize. “It’s working,” Monaghan says, “I
feel if it is something you’re called to do, the path will be easier for you
because you’re committing to where you’re supposed to be.”
Monaghan is trying to obtain grants to hire a staff and possibly a counselor for the peer-resource center. During summer, local members of Kiwanis and the Los Medanos College Key Club have volunteered to fill the void.
“It’s really great volunteering here,” said 15-year-old Luigi Galvan. “I love the atmosphere, and of course it all goes to a good cause.”
Monaghan said she needs volunteers at her store, and people to donate money, goods and host fundraising events. Her job isn’t easy, but it’s necessary. For Monahan, that’s all that matters: “After sending a child or loved one off to war ~ and they come back ~ there aren’t that many things that are more important.”
Blue star mother Josie is living her dream and making a difference for returning Veterans ~ and her theme of P=I=C=S Participation=Involvement=Commitment=Support
Monaghan is trying to obtain grants to hire a staff and possibly a counselor for the peer-resource center. During summer, local members of Kiwanis and the Los Medanos College Key Club have volunteered to fill the void.
“It’s really great volunteering here,” said 15-year-old Luigi Galvan. “I love the atmosphere, and of course it all goes to a good cause.”
Monaghan said she needs volunteers at her store, and people to donate money, goods and host fundraising events. Her job isn’t easy, but it’s necessary. For Monahan, that’s all that matters: “After sending a child or loved one off to war ~ and they come back ~ there aren’t that many things that are more important.”
Blue star mother Josie is living her dream and making a difference for returning Veterans ~ and her theme of P=I=C=S Participation=Involvement=Commitment=Support
continues to weave its magic as
myself and many others are drawn to participate and become involved in this
unique and much needed community based East County
Veterans resource center ~ which serves veterans in Pittsburg, Antioch, Oakley
and Brentwood.
Josie Monaghan is the living
evidence of the power
and magic of
commitment ~ as famously expressed in
this quote from Goethe ; " Until one is
committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back ~ Concerning all acts of
initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth that ignorance of
which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one
definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things
occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of
events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of
unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could
have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do, or dream you can
do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now."
East County Veterans Thrift and antique Store
is open Mondays through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday from 10 a.m.
to 4 p.m. For more information, call 925-206-4113 or email www.eastcountyveterans.org
"Each
of us is put here in this time and this place to personally decide the future
of humankind. Did you think you were put here for something less?"
Chief Arvol Looking Horse
Chief Arvol Looking Horse
Allen L Roland
Freelance Alternative Press Online columnist and psychotherapist Allen L Roland is available for comments, interviews, speaking engagements and private Skype consultations ( allen@allenroland.com )
Allen
L Roland is a practicing psychotherapist, author and
lecturer who also shares a daily political and social commentary on his web log and website allenroland.com
He also guest hosts a monthly national radio show TRUTHTALK on www.conscioustalk.net
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