Wounded Veterans Answer the Call to Help Food Bank

SOUTHERN PINES, N.C., April 11, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- When over 9,000 pounds of rice arrived on large pallets to a local food bank, something had to be done to make it readily available for patrons. It would be a challenge, but dividing rice into manageable family-sized bags needed to be done. Wounded Warrior Project^® (WWP) answered the call for help from the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina, and brought wounded veterans and their families together for a day of service.

The service opportunity gave WWP Alumni and family members a chance to give back to their community, spend time with one another, and enjoy a hearty lunch provided by WWP.

Many wounded service members face similar challenges adjusting to their injuries and civilian life. The WWP Alumni program creates support through shared experiences that bring injured veterans together to build camaraderie. By bonding through events and programs, wounded veterans learn they are not alone. The WWP Alumni program is one of 20 direct programs and services offered free of charge to wounded service members, their caregivers, and families.

Michael Clauer, Army veteran and WWP Alumnus said, "We came in to divide and fill bags of rice; our group got along well and we enjoyed our time together."

Michael says his time with WWP has always been well spent, and he's been involved with various WWP programs and services throughout his recovery. "Meeting other Alumni is always beneficial, and I have had nothing but positive experiences with WWP," he said. "I've been involved with volunteering at the food bank, cycling programs, the Alumni program, Transition Training Academy, and many fitness classes."

Thanks to efficiency and teamwork, WWP volunteers worked their way through four 2,500 pound pallets of rice, and divided them into manageable 2-pound packages for the food bank shelves.

Since being founded in 2003, WWP has evolved its programs and services to meet the growing needs of the constituency it serves. More than 100,000 wounded veterans, caregivers, and family members receive access to 20 direct WWP programs and services, all of which are free of charge.

One of the programs Michael has been involved with fulfills the increasing demand for technology resources. The Transition Training Academy (TTA) is a hands-on program that helps injured veterans explore the information technology (I.T.) field as a possible career. TTA instruction is a high-touch blended learning model where instructors engage personally with each student by using "learn-by-doing" teaching techniques that increase the potential for student success. This is especially beneficial for injured service members with traumatic brain injury (TBI) or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

In February 2016 alone, WWP served 5,367 wounded veterans through economic empowerment programs, which include TTA. Learn more at https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/programs.

About Wounded Warrior Project
The mission of Wounded Warrior Project^® (WWP) is to honor and empower Wounded Warriors. WWP's purpose is to raise awareness and to enlist the public's aid for the needs of injured service members, to help injured servicemen and women aid and assist each other, and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet their needs. WWP is a national, nonpartisan organization headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida. To get involved and learn more, visit woundedwarriorproject.org.

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SOURCE Wounded Warrior Project