Veterans organizations are making a difference and you can help, too

April 3, 2020

According to U.S. Census data, Dallas County is home to more than 95,000 U.S. military veterans. And, nearly 109,000 veterans live in Tarrant County. Many of these men and women suffer the effects of their sacrifice to such an extent that they have great difficulty being with their families, holding jobs or even finding places to live. They lack the health care, education and employment needed to live rich, happy lives.

Government resources are often not enough or are difficult to navigate — and that’s where the private sector can help. Here are a few North Texas nonprofits that are providing veterans with the assistance they need.

DFW Canines for Veterans

The Mansfield-based organization provides service dogs to combat veterans who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and/or traumatic brain injury. Co-founders Melissa and Carrie Caposello work alongside a team of volunteer U.S. military members to train dogs and the veterans who will become their owners.

Ninety percent of the dogs trained by DFW Canines for Veterans come from city kill shelters, and training costs on average $20,000 per dog. Funds come from private donors and corporate sponsors, and 100% of monies donated go toward training and gear. Veterans pay nothing for their service dogs, the training, or a lifelong commitment of camaraderie and support. The group has an Amazon wish list of dog beds, harnesses, leashes and more. Get more information and donate at dfwcaninesd . com.

Homeless Veterans Service of Dallas

Located south of the Dallas VA Medical Center in Lancaster, Homeless Veterans Service of Dallas (HVSD) offers a place for homeless or underserved veterans to use computers, take showers, find meals, do laundry and get a haircut for free. The group also works with the Veterans Administration to provide temporary housing and employment opportunities.

In 2018, it helped open Dallas’ first tiny house community for homeless veterans. HVSD maintains a wish list on its website that includes items such as cereal, flash drives, backpacks, batteries, bus passes, gas cards and rain ponchos for veterans, as well as coffee, bottled water, and towels and washcloths for the center. There are also opportunities to volunteer your time. Get more information and see the full list of needed items at hvsd . org.

Greater Dallas Veterans Foundation

The all-volunteer nonprofit is dedicated to honoring veterans throughout the community and supporting other veterans organizations. It hosts the Greater Dallas Veterans Day Ceremony and Parade, which takes place this year on Monday, November 11, and commemorates the 75th anniversary of the D-Day invasion. Ceremonies begin at 11 a.m. in front of City Hall; the parade begins right after.

You can show your support for veterans by attending the parade. Find out how to volunteer or donate with the Greater Dallas Veterans Foundation at greaterdallasveteransfoundation . org.

Veteran Women’s Enterprise Center

Located in Lancaster and created to help female veteran business owners, Veteran Women’s Enterprise Center connects women with one another, public/private-sector opportunities, and services and funding, while also providing personal and professional resources. It operates a co-working space with a coffee lounge and meeting rooms, as well as an affordable conference center.

The organization often needs volunteers in the areas of data entry, social media, event marketing, public relations and building maintenance. There are also opportunities to serve as a mentor or coach to a female entrepreneur. Find out more and sign up to volunteer at veteranwomensec . org.

The Veterans Center of North Texas

One of the biggest challenges facing veterans today is locating qualified service providers that can address their needs. That’s where The Veterans Center of North Texas comes in. The Plano-based, all-volunteer group supports veterans and their families by providing information about and access to (when possible) services such as housing, employment, education, health, financial and legal.

The Veterans Center of North Texas does not charge veterans for assistance, and most affiliated providers offer free or reduced charges for their services as well. Learn more and find out how you can volunteer at veteranscenterofnorthtexas . org

  • Most Recent News

    Former Victoria man’s diabetic alert dog helps him get back to life

    June 2, 2021

    When Luke Hengen’s diabetes worsened in his early twenties, it stripped him of the outdoor activities where the country kid felt at home. Countless wilderness adventures and years of hard-fought football games took a toll on his body, to the point where he could no longer sense when his blood sugar was too high or […]

    Read more

    Students Get Therapy Dog

    January 8, 2021

    When middle school students return to class on Jan. 11, they’ll find a new face at the door: Daisy. Daisy is a therapy dog and the personal pet of Rob Kreger, principal of the Rock L. Butler Middle School. The five-year-old golden retriever is not a school pet or mascot, but rather a working dog […]

    Read more

    Therapy Dogtor

    January 8, 2021

    Last March, Caroline Benzel, a third-year medical student, began to notice the stress and discomfort her nurse friends were feeling from the pressures of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. “[Personal protective equipment] can be really rough on the skin,” Benzel, 31, tells PEOPLE. Benzel and her 3-year-old Rottweiler, Loki (who’s also a therapy dog) hatched a […]

    Read more

    Therapy Dog Pups

    January 8, 2021

    When Stanley the miniature fox terrier’s owner passed away, the little dog started a ‘paw-some’ new role – bringing puppy love to some of the Gold Coast’s oldest residents. After Carinity Cedarbrook Diversional Therapist Julianne Staff adopted Stanley, he began visiting the aged care community at Mudgeeraba as a therapy dog. Therapy dogs help to […]

    Read more

    Puppy Cams

    January 7, 2021

    A nonprofit is providing an unusual form of therapy for those on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic – puppy cams! “You spend five minutes with a puppy and try not to smile,” said registered nurse Robin Lingg Lagrone. Lingg Lagrone says watching little furballs wag their tails and prance on their paws helps […]

    Read more

    Pet Committee

    January 7, 2021

    When Moore County’s school doors were abruptly closed earlier in 2020, two- and four-legged volunteers from the Moore County Citizens’ Pet Responsibility Committee (PRC) were in their 12th year of presenting a six-session Pet Responsibility Education Program for fourth-graders. The PRC quickly shifted gears and placed its program materials online as part of a home […]

    Read more

    The Right Rescue Dog

    January 7, 2021

    If your New Year’s resolution is to add a canine family member, good for you. Somewhere out there is the perfect puppy or adult dog for your family. You have a lot of things to think about when you begin to look for that new family member, puppy or dog? Large or small? Purebred or […]

    Read more

    Police Dog Attack

    January 7, 2021

    A resolution headed to the Duluth City Council on Monday could put to rest a lawsuit filed by Teri Lynn Ehlers, an employee of the Patch Motel, who was bitten by a Duluth police dog named Oakley. Former Duluth Police Officer Marc Johnson was a registered guest of the Warroad establishment May 28, 2018, when […]

    Read more

    PAWS With A Cause

    January 7, 2021

    Pebble Hill Plantation and the Thomas County Public Library are pleased to announce the upcoming Enlightening Bites program, “PAWS With a Cause,” on Friday, January 8, 2021 at noon in the Flipper Room of the Library. The program is being presented by Jeri Anderson, field representative. Anderson is recently retired from the City of Monticello, […]

    Read more

    Police Canine Team

    January 7, 2021

    Kingston Police revealed in a news release late Wednesday afternoon that they’ve been keeping a four-legged secret for roughly three months. The force announced it added a second canine unit, with the arrival of police service dog Dak this past October. He is working with Const. Jeff Dickson, while police service dog Bask is working […]

    Read more

    More Recent News