Veterans, Families Spend Sweet Evening with Wounded Warrior Project

A group of Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) veterans and family members got to experience a day in the life of a chocolatier during a recent candy-making connection event. As they dabbled in the creation of custom confections, participants experienced what is possible at social events that connect them with fellow service members in their community.

Under the guidance of an expert, the group set about making chocolates with a variety of molds and toppings. In addition to learning a new skill, they were able to bring their sweet treats home with them.

"This was a fun, unique event that gave my family an opportunity to bond," said Denice Santos, whose husband is an Army veteran. "I enjoyed being part of a hands-on, interactive outing especially one where all ages were welcome."

The class gave warriors a chance to connect with friends and forge new friendships in an environment accommodating to physical injuries and social anxieties.

"It's helpful to have a chance to laugh and relax with one another at Wounded Warrior Project events like this," Denice said.

Isolation can be detrimental to the healing process, and it can be difficult knowing how to overcome that challenge. Connection events and socializing with other veterans can help injured warriors cope with stress and emotional concerns. In a WWP survey of the injured warriors it serves, more than half of survey respondents (51.7 percent) talked with fellow Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, or Operation New Dawn veterans to address their mental health issues.

WWP team members accompanied families throughout the evening, closely interacting with them and advising them of additional programs and services to assist in their recovery processes. The programs help injured veterans with mental health, physical health and wellness, career and benefits counseling, and connecting with other warriors and their communities. Thanks to generous donors, wounded warriors can benefit from program resources at no cost to them.

To learn more about how WWP's programs and services connect, serve, and empower wounded warriors, visit http://newsroom.woundedwarriorproject.org/. To find photos from this event, click on multimedia, then images.

About Wounded Warrior Project
Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) connects, serves, and empowers wounded warriors. Read more at http://newsroom.woundedwarriorproject.org/about-us.