WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — A Warner Robins initiative is brewing up support for veterans, one cup at a time.
The VECTR Center in Warner Robins hosted its second "Coffee and Camaraderie" event Friday, providing a space for veterans to connect and support one another. Organizers said they hope these gatherings can make a difference, especially during summer months when suicide rates among veterans tend to be higher.
"From personal experience... transitioning from the military... it almost feels lonely," said Angeletha Long, an Army veteran who attended the event.
The informal setting allows for open conversations and helps build a sense of community among those who've served. Attendees say the event offers a vital lifeline during challenging times.
"I always joked that the military assigned me my friends. So I don't have to go looking for friends," Long said. "Now that I'm out of the Army, and I work from home, I don't have an office with people to go and socialize with. So I look forward to coming to these events. This is how I get to socialize."
Sonya White, a National Guard veteran with 20 years of service, emphasized the importance of these gatherings.
"Civilian life is kind of hard because if you're putting on those boots and that uniform for 20 years, you don't know how to get back into the civilian world because you've been doing that for so long," she said.
White also highlighted the value of peer support. She now volunteers her time talking with veterans on a hotline.
"I think the longest I've spent is two hours and fifteen minutes because they just needed to talk,” White said. “And they wanted to talk to someone who was familiar with some of the things they went through."
The VECTR Center plans to make "Coffee and Camaraderie" a regular monthly event. The next one is scheduled for Sept. 20 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Organizers hope to see attendance increase in the coming months as they expand their efforts.
If you or a veteran you know needs support, resources are available through the Veterans Crisis Line by dialing 988, then pressing 1.