ATHLETICS

We provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of well-coached Olympic-type sports for individuals with disabilities. We do this by providing them with continued opportunities to improve physical fitness and prepare for sporting events. Veteran Training contributes to the physical, social, and psychological development of disabled veterans with athletic challenges. Through successful events and training in sports, athletes gain confidence and build strength, ability and coordination, which they carry into their new civilian lives.

MILITARY CARE PACKAGES

OPERATION: BEANIE

OPERATION: BALL DROP

Through a number of military units we have sent every kind of ball available to Soldiers, Airmen, Sailors and Marines to pass on to children in hardship areas overseas. We get more requests for these than we can possibly fill but we keep trying.

OPERATION: SUPERHERO

FREEDOM WALK 2008

Thank you to all the families, veterans, and police and fire department personnel who participated, donated, or supported our 12-hour walk through Boston this Veteran's Day. Thirty long miles were walked, but nothing compared to seeing Brian Fountaine complete his goal of finishing
the Freedom Trail on his new legs.

A few local media links:
Patriot Ledger report
NECN report
Hanson native who lost legs in war walks to help others

LETTERS FOR SOLDIERS

Before an E-mail and one monthly three-minute call home... a letter was the life-line to those deployed. As a former Squad Leader I can say without a doubt that the single greatest moment for a deployed soldier was when his or her name was called for mail call. So with help from a certain Abington School Superintendent we sent thank you letters from local children to soldiers operating in Afghanistan and Iraq.  We are looking into making this an on going mission and happy to accept the challenge.

HOLIDAY CARDS FOR THE DEPLOYED & WOUNDED

FEED A FIREHOUSE

We show our gratitude to local Firehouses by delivering meals and drinks to our nation's uniformed heroes. This is a way for us to show that we appreciate their hard work and dedication to their self-sacrificing careers.

FALLEN HEROES SCHOLARSHIP

FILLING LOCAL FOOD PANTRIES

There is no reason for any person in America to go hungry. Veteran Training makes every effort to collect and distribute canned and boxed goods to food banks across the south shore. We may not be able to feed every mouth but we will try to fill as many empty stomachs as we can.

TOYS FOR TOTS

This past year we decided to do our first Toys for Tots run... all because of the six-year-old daughter of one of the Veteran Training families. This little girl named Morgan motivated us beyond words when we learned that she had asked everyone at her birthday to please bring a gift for a needy child instead of a present for herself. We had always before asked those who could to make a simple contribution to one of the local bins during the holiday shopping season to help a child in need. The results were amazing! So thank you to everyone who contributed and made the holidays a little brighter.

POLICE ATHLETIC LEAGUE

We volunteer and train youth and Police Officers in local Police Athletic Leagues (PAL). PAL's are organizations in many American police departments in which members of the police force coach young people, both boys and girls, in sports, and help with homework and other school-related activities. The purpose is to build character, help strengthen police-community relations, and keep children off illegal drugs. Most PAL programs now call themselves "Police Activities Leagues" because many of the programs are now focused on youth enrichment, educational and youth leadership programs and not just sports.

We help local Police Athletic Leagues with our programs to donate funds & equipment,  so that the cost to taxpayers is small while the returns are great. Participants in the League's activities are supposedly much less likely to engage in crime, far more likely to praise the character of the police force, and discourage their friends from either committing crimes or covering up criminal activity.

SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE

Veteran Training collects school supplies for less privileged school children through our annual drive. We have collected more than 30 bags of supplies that go to building a stronger future for young minds.

SOUTH SHORE CLOTHING DRIVE FOR LOCAL BOSTON WOMEN AND CHILDREN'S SHELTERS

Veteran Training was overcome with the response to our first attempt to help local shelters in the Boston and South Shore area. We collected over 75 leaf bags filled with clothes, shoes, undergarments, and business attire for hopeful job applicants.

OPERATION: GIFT CARD

How many gift cards do you have sitting in a drawer with $1.37 on it? We've recently heard from a Veteran Trainee, who has the full time duty of Foster Care Social Worker, about the needs of some of the kids in the homes she helps maintain. In response, we've decided to start Operation: Gift Card where cards with remaining dollars and cents on them can be collected and donated to those who need them. From department stores, to supply and hardware stores, to supermarkets and restaurants...they will all go to a great cause. What may just be pennies to some people can turn into school products and new socks for our future role-models.
If you would like to donate:

Please E-mail or write:
Matt@veterantraining.org or send donations to 125 Church St., 90-324, Pembroke, MA 02359

VETERAN TRAINING COAT DRIVE:

Your donations will be used to:

• support much needed programs designed and continued for Deployed and Active Duty Troops and to help Disabled Veterans become physically active again
• maintain a training facility to help rebuild returning Afghanistan & Iraq Veterans physically, mentally and emotionally
• continue our care packages drop and organization center

We will continue to give 100% of what we receive back to the organization.