Wounded Warrior Project Empowers Veterans to Connect at Hockey Game

ONTARIO, Calif., Jan. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A group of injured veterans witnessed nonstop hockey action during a recent Wounded Warrior Project^® (WWP) outing to see the Ontario Reign take on the Stockton Heat. As warriors and their guests watched the game, they experienced firsthand what is possible at social gatherings that get them out of the house and connected with fellow service members.

Isolation is one of the most significant struggles wounded warriors deal with after serving their country. It can be difficult knowing how to overcome that challenge and rekindle bonds similar to those formed in the military.

"I try to be part of Wounded Warrior Project outings whenever I can," said Marine Corps veteran Rolf Blum. "Getting out to do something empowers me to step out of my comfort zone and meet with other veterans who are going through the same things as me. That gives me a sense of safety and a feeling of peace."

For many warriors, the experiences they had in the military were some of the best of their lives, filled with fellowship, meaning, and direction. These connection activities support the long-term recovery needs of warriors by reintroducing them and their families to the unique bonds experienced during military service – in environments that accommodate physical injuries and social anxieties.

In a WWP survey of the injured warriors it serves, more than half of survey respondents (51.7 percent) talked with fellow Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, or Operation New Dawn veterans to address their mental health issues.

Staff members closely interacted with attendees throughout the evening, advising them of additional services to assist in their recoveries. WWP offers a variety of programs and services that help injured veterans with mental health, physical health and wellness, career and benefits counseling, and connecting with other warriors and their communities. Generous donors make it possible for wounded warriors to take part in outreach activities and benefit from program resources at no cost to them.

To learn more about how WWP's programs and services connect, serve, and empower wounded warriors, visit http://newsroom.woundedwarriorproject.org/.

About Wounded Warrior Project
Wounded Warrior Project^® (WWP) connects, serves, and empowers wounded warriors. Read more at http://newsroom.woundedwarriorproject.org/about-us.

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SOURCE Wounded Warrior Project