ABOUT ME
Who am I?
Father. Husband. Veteran.
It was never in my plan to be a woodworker – but then again, neither was almost losing everything to PTSD. Woodworking gave me a purpose and an outlet that I was desperately looking for and missing.
I’ve since made it my mission to use my woodworking to help save other veterans.
- My story
I have always been a proud man.
I was proud of my family, and my country, and more importantly, I was proud of myself. At least that’s what I tried to portray to the rest of the world. In reality, I was struggling with crippling guilt and shame as a result of my post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from my deployments as a Marine.
It was around 2018 and my job entailed a LOT of stress and pressure to perform every day. I hated it. But, it paid the bills. It kept a roof over our heads. I would drink when I got home to calm my nerves and to make me stop feeling anything. It helped take away the stresses from work and made me forget about Iraq.
I started to grow more and more distant from my family. I could tell things were going downhill and couldn’t find a way to pull myself back up. I wasn’t happy. I couldn’t be happy. It was starting to take its toll on my family. I was losing what I loved most and couldn’t stop.
- Finding my purpose
I figured out what I’d been missing.
At the beginning of 2020, I made a commitment to myself – I was going to get help. I started seeing some therapists through the VA. That helped some. I also found my love for woodworking. That helped a lot.
By the time Covid shut the world down, I decided it was time – now or never – to make a big change. I left my job and found a new, WAY less stressful career with the county. I also started Mission Woodwork.
My goal was to use it as a means to help others. I wanted to be able to give back and help my fellow veterans. The only way I knew how was with my woodworking and raising money that way. I wanted to help unite fellow disabled veterans with service dogs. I wanted to make a difference in their lives. I wanted to eventually be able to teach fellow veterans the skills I learned so that they may help themselves.
- Impacts made
Through the generous patronage of people just like you, we have been able to make a difference. We are proud of what we have been able to accomplish in the last two years, and can’t wait to see where the future takes us!
Learn more about the mission and see how you can help.
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