Cattaraugus County Offers Program for Our Veterans
Cattaraugus County Offers Program for Our Veterans
The Dwyer Veteran Peer to Peer Program Offers The Opportunity to Build Friendships for Local Veterans
We’re coming out of another fabulous holiday season. No matter what you celebrate, those few weeks at the end of the year are magical. It’s the perfect time to be with loved ones and celebrate the new year to come. The holiday season doesn’t last forever, and my mom would say that’s both a blessing and a curse. I begrudgingly trudged back to my college campus after a very merry Christmas. But why does this theme of togetherness have to come and go? Why can’t those three weeks of love and support last all year round? Well, in Cattaraugus County, it certainly does, all while supporting those serving our country in the community.
The Cattaraugus County Dwyer Veteran Peer-to-Peer Program provides veterans and their friends and families a space to come together to “fight isolation and loneliness,” says Liz Conner, a Navy veteran and co-facilitator for the Dwyer Program in Cattaraugus County. This not only provides activity and togetherness for the whole community but also helps veterans combat PTSD and other mental illnesses developed from their time serving. I recently connected with Liz, and she told me how this all came about downstate back in 2012.
IN THE BEGINNING
In Suffolk County, New York, Joseph P. Dwyer’s parents noticed something. Being home on leave from combat, Dwyer’s family noticed his deep struggle with his mental health and well-being. That was until his parents brought some of his ‘battle buddies’ around, or friends made while serving, and saw Dwyer begin to return to his normal self. When he finished serving, Dwyer returned to that dark place, demonstrating characteristics of PTSD and struggling with drug abuse.
That’s when Joseph P. Dwyer’s family pushed for Suffolk County to adopt the ‘peer-to-peer’ concept that had helped him so much in the past. Years later, the Dwyer Veteran Peer-to-Peer program now exists in every county in New York.
JUDGEMENT-FREE SUPPORT
The idea of veterans struggling with feelings of post-traumatic stress after serving in the military is not new, and Dwyer’s family was able to identify a solution in connecting veterans with other veterans to help catalyze open communication and a space of “non-judgmental open communication,” says Liz. She also proudly runs the women veterans’ branch of the organization, focused on empowering female veterans using the same peer-to-peer values.
So, how exactly does the Dwyer program bring people together? In Cattaraugus County, fun-filled community events are the name of the game. This past year, they notably held a veteran’s breakfast, an open skating event, and of course their monthly game night.
Upcoming is the annual wine walk being held in downtown Historic Olean, NY in the Union Street and Lincoln Park areas, where guests can taste local flavors and enjoy the spring air. Though the walk isn’t until May 4th, tickets will be available starting April 1st at the “Early Bird Special” pricing of $30. The link to purchase will be posted up on their Facebook page and website starting that day. This deal runs the first two weeks of April. If you purchase tickets any time after that, they will be the normal price of $35. (This is a 21 or older event.) This isn’t just a wine tasting; it is a celebration of community and the art of wine and spirits all together. (Don’t miss out on your chance to support a great cause and enjoy a good time!)
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
But that’s not all. The Dwyer program in Cattaraugus County prioritizes networking just as much as the peer-to-peer aspect. Oftentimes, good friends and togetherness are not going to be the main solution to combat the internal struggles that many veterans face. The Dwyer program is a great resource for veterans to get connected with specialists they might not have otherwise had access to on their own. “We try to match-make them and help them get that work started,” said Conner.
Much of this work is done through the VA or the Veterans Affairs Department, the Cattaraugus County Veteran Service Office, and other local and statewide therapy and service offices. Clearly, the Cattaraugus County Dwyer program has its bases covered to assist Veterans as best they can.
“The goal is to just keep doing what we’re doing,” says Conner. “Through word of mouth and community events, we let people know that we’re here.”
As a veteran herself, Conner understands that the most important thing is to make sure that as many veterans as possible know the resource is there. Just knowing it exists could change someone’s life. “That’s the beauty of the program, it sells itself,” Conner mentioned.
Being almost run “by veterans for veterans” is also a super important part of the program. Liz commented how she found purpose in getting to “work with [her] heroes every day”.
If you or a loved one might benefit from some time with the Cattaraugus County Dwyer Veteran Peer-to-Peer program, or even if you just want that holiday season togetherness to last all year long, you can check out upcoming events and ways to participate on the Cattaraugus County Dwyer Veteran Facebook page.