VISION

To provide community, hope, and healing for veterans.

MISSION

Uniting veterans through shared experiences, peer support, and accountability.

We believe in the power of connection.

Many veterans find that after leaving the military, the strong bonds they once had with their fellow service members are difficult to replace in their hometown. The truth is that the challenges of life after service can be overwhelming. Now, more than ever, people need the power of connection.

G.E.T. HOPE exists to bridge that gap by building a local community where veterans can support one another, share experiences, and rediscover camaraderie in everyday life. Through shared events, peer mentorship, or just being there for one another, we’re creating spaces where veterans feel seen, valued, and never alone — far beyond the local watering holes.

G.E.T. HOPE is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting local veterans in Wood County, Ohio and surrounding areas.

Why G.E.T. HOPE?

While there are a lot of nonprofits for veterans in the United States, G.E.T. HOPE aims to stand in the gap where there is an obvious lack of support.

“What does Wood County offer for veterans like me?” was a question posed to the police on the last night of George “Erik” Taylor’s life.

Erik was a 20+ year veteran having served in the U.S. Marines and U.S. Coast Guard, who also volunteered to go to the ends of the earth to fight for our freedoms. Sadly, he was right.

In Erik’s own home county, in Northwest Ohio, where can a veteran struggling with PTSD and TBI turn to in their darkest hour? It’s not the VA, it’s not our local institutions, law enforcement, and it’s not even our local hospitals.

  • The U.S. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has faced well-documented systemic issues such as long wait times for healthcare, limited access to veterans in rural areas, and an overall inadequate mental health system, and the list goes on...

  • Our local institutions aren’t trained or equipped to offer the kind of support needed.

And while we wait for the government or someone else to step in and fix this, one more veteran takes his or her life, due to lack of support.

G.E.T HOPE aims to place a focus on local connectedness for our veterans, providing community, hope, and healing through local gatherings, events, and mentorships. Sharing experiences with another veteran who understands what they're going through can provide a sense of validation, reduce feelings of isolation, and offer valuable peer support.

So let's put our memorial halls and public spaces to good use, for the connection and healing of our local veterans. Let’s bring our veteran community together and offer them hope, in honor of George Erik Taylor and his brothers and sisters in arms.

ARE YOU A VETERAN & INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES?

Become a Wingman

Our Wingman System pairs veterans in need with local veteran volunteers who serve as a personal support system and friend. Wingmen understand the challenges of PTSD, military transition, and life’s darkest moments and can be a resource - someone who will listen.