Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) Announces Operation Outreach

--Together with ******* Barrel Old Country Store® and U-Haul, WWP to Bring Services and Support to Warriors Across the Nation--

Jacksonville, FL –Today, Wounded Warrior Project announces the kickoff of its “Operation Outreach” summer initiative.  For the duration of the initiative, taking place from July 2 through August 16, teams of recently wounded warriors will head to towns across America to meet with their peers; this new generation of injured veterans who have returned to their communities and civilian lives. The campaign is an attempt to rebuild the proverbial front porch as a meeting place for wounded warriors to come together and heal. 

“Too often in the past, our nation’s injured heroes have been forgotten as they continue their struggles beyond the battlefield. As Wounded Warrior Project travels the country, we will bring together warriors to build a network of support and services to help these men and women flourish in life after injury,” said Wounded Warrior Project Founder and Executive Director John Melia.

Operation Outreach will consist of a mobile outreach team of approximately 20 wounded warriors who will personally meet with other injured service members and provide them the support and encouragement they need to move forward. Additionally, the outreach teams will provide access to the programs and services WWP offers. The program is being generously sponsored by U-Haul and ******* Barrel Old Country Store® who, respectively, are supplying the outreach teams with vehicles and places to gather.

"U-Haul is thrilled to be partnering with the Wounded Warrior Project and Operation Outreach by providing them with trucks to travel across the country as they provide benefits information to help veterans who are returning from overseas," stated John (JT) Taylor, president, U-Haul International, Inc.  "U-Haul was founded by a World War II Navy veteran and has a long history of supporting our veterans, this is another way for us help the heroes who have fought to protect our freedom."

“The front porch is a symbol that we strongly identify with at ******* Barrel, and it is an honor to provide these very brave servicemen and servicewomen with a gathering place to share their stories,” said Peter Keiser, vice president of marketing at ******* Barrel Old Country Store, Inc.

Wounded Warrior Project’s purpose is to honor and empower wounded warriors by providing programming and services to nourish their collective healing and ensuring these men and women are the most successful, well-adjusted generation of veterans in our nation’s history. With WWP, assistance begins at an injured service member’s bedside with Wounded Warrior Project Backpacks that contain essential care and comfort items like clean clothes and toiletries. As these men and women continue to heal, WWP also offers adaptive sports opportunities, outdoors programs, benefits and career counseling and advocacy initiatives.

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If you’re an injured service member or veteran or know someone who is, Wounded Warrior Project encourages you to join the mobile outreach team summer at a ******* Barrel Old Country Store® location near you for a great meal, a chance to ask questions about your veterans’ benefits, and the opportunity to build a community for all generations of veterans.

For a full list of cities and dates, please visit www.woundedwarriorproject.org/outreach