Veteran Stories

After serving in the Army and building a culinary career, Kathleen returned to Buffalo and found community at VOSC. Through business guidance, new friendships and adventures like whitewater rafting, she continued pursuing her interests. A traveler and volunteer at heart, her story shows how a sense of belonging can inspire new experiences.

Veterans One-stop Center partnered with Tamo Junto to offer a six-week Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu program for Veterans. Participants built strength and learned new skills while finding focus, connection, and community on and off the mats. Together, we’re creating meaningful opportunities that support Veterans’ overall well-being and help them connect through shared experiences.

Chronic pain, arthritis, and isolation once made scuba feel impossible for Hillary. With support from Veterans One-stop Center’s Peer Support team and fellow Veterans, she regained confidence and found calm in the water. She completed her training, joined our Alexandria Bay trip, and became a certified diver, crediting the water with changing her life.

In partnership with Buffalo Harbor Sailing Club, VOSC’s Learn to Sail program gave Veterans a chance to try something new. Participants learned sailing basics, worked together as a crew, and spent time with fellow Veterans on the water. Along the way, they built confidence, got to know one another, and discovered a new activity to enjoy.

Fitness helped Jessica heal, and now she helps fellow Veterans feel stronger, healthier, and more confident as a personal trainer at Veterans One-stop Center. She listens to their stories and works with them toward their goals. In this video, Jessica talks about how she found fitness and why helping other Veterans means so much to her.

Through the Staff Sergeant Fox Suicide Prevention Program at the Veterans One-Stop Center, along with peer support and wellness programs, Jamie found familiar faces, regained a sense of calm, and rebuilt her confidence. Today, she credits that support with helping her rediscover purpose and begin shaping the next chapter of her life.