The Veterans Resource Center ("VRC") is a Washington State non-profit educational and charitable corporation.
 
Our mission is to promote community-based efforts to heal the effects of war on veterans, their families and communities.  It is inspired in part by Ed Tick's work and book, "War and the Soul", and to some degree modeled on his Soldier's Heart project.  We hope to fund our community activity facility and programs with donations and grants.  As a volunteer-supported organization, it will also draw on the generous and heart-felt involvement of many diverse and skilled creative expressive artists, educators, crafts people, musicians, writers, healers and generally talented people who make Whidbey Island home.

• Acknowledge the uniqueness of combat trauma and its effects on Veterans and their families and communities;

• "Do no harm" while healing the wounds of war;

• Provide a safe portal through which the returning combat veteran will be able to come "all the way home";

• Foster mutual education and support;

• Strategize maximum availability, efficiency and effectiveness of programs;

• Network with existing Veteran organizations, community groups and churches;

• Advocate for Veterans in the area of medical and mental health services, disability and educational benefits as well as family cohesiveness and healing;

• Create and operate a safe and inviting activity center site that respects diversity, nurtures trust and provides reintegration opportunities within a community context

• Gather and make available, to the public and to the service provider community, current research and resource materials in the fields of combat related trauma and healing including a library of relevant books, movies, music and resources;

• Offer safe socialization, mentored and other learning opportunities and referrals for veterans and their families who would benefit from more individual or community support and interaction;

• Educate the community and project volunteers about current growing edge research regarding the invisible wounds of combat, resiliency and reintegration.