MYSTIC, CT and CLEVELAND, TX “What a thrill to see a magnificent horse help injured veterans recover in an equine therapy program,” exclaimed Cathy Cook, Executive Director at Work Vessels for Vets. “We are delighted to match the inkind donation of a therapy trained horse valued at $12,000 with a new agritherapy program in Cleveland, Texas! The donor is happy, the veteran awardee is happy, the injured veterans are happy and the horse is happy!”

“My horse mentor came to me after several talks about my goals on my farm here and told me she wanted to donate Sampson to be a therapy horse here,” remarked Ramona Harding, a US Navy veteran who sustained injuries in her military career.   “The donor needed to partner with a nonprofit to conclude the transaction, and I turned to Work Vessels for Vets who responded immediately!  Sampson’s Shadow has the perfect disposition for this work and has been specifically trained to be calm and responsive to veterans with PTSD, TBI and other injuries.   Gypsy Vanners are particularly good therapeutic horses because of their gentle nature and Sampson will be a critical addition Pine Shadows Farm as veterans enjoy a therapeutic agricultural environment and equine therapy program.  Giving back to other veterans heals us all,” says Harding. “Sampson is a magnificent and unique breed Gypsy Vanner horse. He will be utilized as therapy horse for myself and my fellow veterans on our Texas agritherapy farm. We plan on acquiring a couple other horses with therapeutic personalities. We also plan on having a few goats and a guard llama, all with personalities suitable to be therapy livestock. We will also be doing gardening and some classes on growing vegetables. A regular drum circle and poetry jams. Samson will also help with being a part of our future organic gardening projects.

Read more news in our January 2020 Newsletter

MYSTIC, CT – DECEMBER 2019 – “We love it when a plan comes together,” exclaimed Cathy Cook, Executive Director of Work Vessels for Vets, the Mystic, CT based charity that awards equipment to injured veterans who are starting a business. “We matched an in-kind donation of $5000 of unneeded landscape pavers for mosaics from Riverhead Building Supply of Niantic with the needs of a Waterford veteran who is starting a unique business "Pieceful Connections." It is a landscape design company focusing on cognitive gardens.”

“I want to teach our children the importance of sustainability and stewardship. When I learned what nature does to help create more complex brain structures in young children, I realized that this is something that needs to be shared,” said Navy veteran Annette Montoya of Waterford, CT.

The large donation to Work Vessels for Vets was delivered to Navy veteran Anette Montoya this week. This is a win-win-win transaction for the donor, the charity and the veteran awardee. The pavers were leftover from UBS when Riverhead bought the Niantic, CT company. These items are not part of the Riverhead product line and they wanted to utilize the space where the pavers were stored.  

 Rick Crolius Honored for his Service to Work Vessels for Vets at “Hands UP for Vets” 11^th Annual Fundraiser

Yes, there were tears. Richmond “Rock and Roll Rick” Crolius, US Navy veteran, of Groton Long Point, was stunned when a crowd of hundreds cheered as Work Vessels for Vets President and founder John Niekrash presented the organization’s cherished “PATRIOT STAR AWARD” to honor Rick’s dedication and deep commitment to veterans. 

Work Vessels for Vets volunteer Rick Crolius helped design the Patriot Star Award eleven years ago, and he was more than surprised to receive this honor.  The Patriot Star bears the embroidered star from a US Flag flown over Fallujah, Iraq.  It recognizes the extraordinary efforts of individuals who are American Patriots helping our military veterans. 

MYSTIC, CT  CDR Scott “Barney” Barnes, USN (ret) retired from the Navy in 2006 to establish Happy Homestead Farm in Florida’s panhandle only to have Hurricane Michael destroy his fields and farm equipment in 2018. Work Vessels for Vets, headquartered in Mystic, CT was particularly connected with this veteran who had been stationed at the nearby US Navy Submarine Base in Groton.  It took nearly six months of searching to find an affordable tractor with implements to get Barney’s farm up and running again.   At last, the long search was fruitful with a $7000 grant from WVFV, a personal contribution from Barnes, and the generous discount from the retiring local owner.   Happy Homestead Farms will soon be back at full production of Certified Naturally Grown vegetables, mushrooms, cut flowers and worm casting products in the Florida panhandle markets.   

Double amputee veteran awarded specialized forklift for commercial beekeeping.  

Work Vessels for Vets, Inc. announces the award of an adapted forklift to a severely injured Army veteran of 4 combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.  The $30,000 specialized forklift was purchased in collaboration with The Farmer-Veteran Coalition and The Semper Fi Fund and was presented in California recently, just in time for the bees to get to work in the almond groves.

After stepping on an IED in Afghanistan and losing both of his legs, Army Staff Sergeant (SSG) Alejandro Jauregui had to find a new passion to pursue.  Working in the fields since childhood in a small agricultural town in Northern California, SSG Jauregui understands the important role that honey bees play in producing healthy crops.  He started Fury Bees not long after his recovery from severe injuries.  Fury Bees began operations in March, 2015 with just 100 hives. Today, Fury Bees has over 500 hives that are rented out to the almond, fruit tree and other growers in the fertile Salinas Valley of California.