RALEIGH, N.C. — A Raleigh-based organization that helps veterans has expanded ever since it took off.
The Joel Fund is a nonprofit that helps reconnect veterans to life at home, and it has grown rapidly since it was founded five years ago. Dan Sanderoff has a very personal connection to the cause and dedicates his time to helping fellow veterans.
What You Need to Know
The Joel Fund is a Raleigh-based nonprofit that reconnects veterans to life at home
The organization runs several programs, including Operation Furnish, which helps vets who were once homeless
Dan Sanderoff is a veteran and is also a board member of The Joel Fund
Sanderoff dedicates his free time to volunteering for the nonprofit's initiatives, including Operation Furnish
“If you're in a decent place you should be passing it along to people who aren't, whether it's the veteran community or any community,” Sanderoff said.
Operation Furnish is part of The Joel Fund, and it started as a grassroots effort to help veterans who were once homeless.
“We get tons of donations from wonderful people of their old furniture. Instead of throwing it away, we are getting it into the hands of people who need it,” Sanderoff said. “I think it's heartbreaking when you see so many homeless veterans and you kind of think of where that happened or how that happened, and I don't think there's one right answer.”
Veterans who receive help with housing don’t usually have furniture to put in their new home, and that’s where Operation Furnish steps in.
“We are going to drop off some couches and end tables and odds and ends that will help them actually start feeling like a home in the space they were given,” Sanderoff said.
Sanderoff has helped Operation Furnish grow over the last five years.
“The word has got to get out better to the veterans in need, and I think that piece is missed, especially when you're talking about homeless veterans. They don't talk to enough people and a lot of them are so badly inside their head or dealing with their own issues that sometimes they don't even want to talk to people. They prefer to be homeless, which is very sad,” Sanderoff said.
Sanderoff comes from a place of understanding.
“I think it helps some of the veterans in need to know that other veterans are helping them. I think there's a trust level there that you don't necessarily get outside of that community,” Sanderoff said.
Sanderoff is also a veteran. He served in the Navy for six years.
“I was in the Persian Gulf a couple of times, but it was quiet. There was no drama in my life. I came out of it with a little bit of survivor’s guilt when you see veterans struggle with what they went through in the military I didn't go through that. So there’s a need, and I’m able to help,” Sanderoff said.
Sanderoff enjoys lending some of his own time to show fellow veterans they’re valued. It’s an act of kindness that might create a brighter future.
“You're kind of hoping to bring somebody out of a dark place, and that's just a little piece. A roof and some furniture and hopefully that leads to better things, whether they are reaching out to different organizations for help or for jobs or reaching out to the VA,” Sanderoff said.
The Joel Fund was founded by Brooke Dickhart. Her dad, Joe Silva, was a Navy SEAL for almost 20 years. He did four tours in Vietnam, served on SEAL Team 2 and was a plank owner of SEAL Team 6. Dickhart says her dad struggled with PTSD and depression, so she hopes The Joel Fund can help veterans facing the same challenges.
“Through this journey, I have realized my dad’s story was not unique. We see a lot of the same scenarios and situations. Our services are geared to help those men and women who have served to be on their feet and be part of their community and be able to connect with their peers,” Dickhart said. “Anyone who is trying to navigate that system and figure out what their benefits are or what they have access to it is very confusing. So we just try to help reduce that stress and get them where they need to go.”
“If a veteran or a family member comes to us, I want to know where to send them because we don’t offer all the services. So I want to know where to connect them and if I don't know where to send them I know who to call and ask. That's a big part of taking that stress away from them. When you’re in a crisis situation or you’re in a very stressful situation you don't want to have to sit down and research. You want to know where to go and who is reliable do we do that,” Dickhart said.
In addition to Operation Furnish, their programs includes art therapy, overall wellness and resource connection.
In 2020, The Joel Fund served 360 veterans, and so far this year they’ve served 1,100 veterans.
Veterans in crisis can call 1-800-273-8255 and press 1. The lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones and best practices for professionals.