U Matter 2 History and Contact

Our History

 

Why U Matter 2 Inc.

The Story Behind Our Founding

 

 

UMatter2 was founded because of a series of preventable deaths within my close family and friends.

 

It is no secret that returning to civilian life as a veteran can be a hard and uphill battle. According to data from the National Institute of Health (NIH), "Veterans experience mental health disorders, substance use disorders, post-traumatic stress, and traumatic brain injury at disproportionate rates compared to their civilian counterparts. 18 to 22 American veterans commit suicide daily and young veterans aged 18–44 are most at risk." The NIH estimates the number of homeless veterans in the U.S. to be just under 50,000.

 

I saw how hard it can be to return to civilian life first as a child with my Uncle Anthony Simaske. He served as a sergeant in the United States Marine Corps during Vietnam. When the war ended, he was 26 years old, and suffering from PTSD and other mental challenges developed during his service. I knew him as my favorite uncle. I have fond memories of sitting on the porch, going through life together. At this time PTSD was hardly known, much less treated. Instead, like many veterans and trauma-survivors in search of relief, my uncle turned to alcohol abuse as a form of self-medication. He died just 4 years after the war's end at the age of 30 from PTSD-driven alcohol abuse.

His death was preventable.

 

As an adult, I saw a similar narrative play out again with my best friend Scott Henry. Scott was an US Army Specialist who served in active duty and came back quiet. He never talked about his time in service. Instead, he focused on making the world around him as bright and beautiful as possible. He became an ordained minister, officiating at my marriage, with plans to open his own church. When he fell ill in 2013, the VA wasn't able to admit him in time for treatment. The local hospitals did not want to deal with Medicaid and denied him treatment as well. A week later, he was finally admitted for surgery, his intestine exploded on the operating table- leading to a long fight against sepsis. I remember the time we spent together, while he was dying - Thanksgiving, Christmas, sitting on the front porch - A year and a half later, my friend Scott died.

His death was preventable.

 

After Scott's death, something in me changed. In both the case of my uncle and in Scott’s case, it was either a lack of health care or barriers to accessing the health care which should have been available to them that led to their deaths. These were men who had given everything in service for their country, and their country had been unable to take care of them. How could I put it into words? I wasn't able to; I had to put it into action.

 

UMatter2 was founded in the aftermath of Army Specialist Scott Henry's death. With every trip to the doctor's office, every meal delivered, UMatter2 showed our service members that they are not forgotten. I found my purpose: serving one veteran at a time. Our veterans matter. Our veterans fought for us; UMatter2 aims to show that they are worth fighting for in return.

 

UMatter2 is a comprehensive initiative focused on supporting veterans and first responders in crises through direct service. We provide transportation to and from medical appointments, emergency funds to cover crisis gaps in food or housing, job-training, internships, and help submitting income appeals.  Service is given to Veterans on a case-by-case basis, according to their individual needs. Our aim is to help Veterans regain long-term financial stability and, with it, their freedom.

 

Our impact has been measurable and comprehensive. 75% of the individuals we serve request help once, or only intermittently. 25% require more help– generally these are disabled or elderly veterans whose government-appointed stipend is no longer enough to cover increased medical or age-related costs. In these cases, we work with their doctors and counselors to appeal for higher income.

 

This year alone, we distributed 10,000 pounds of food along with 3,000 prepared meals. We opened the Chicks for Vets farm, which provides an animal-assisted therapeutic space for those suffering from PTSD, as well as providing eggs for our food program. We fix cars, assist with paperwork, supply soap and other household needs, and field mental health phone calls.

 

Many of the veterans and first responders we serve return as volunteers. One such man was “John,” who came to us after he had been homeless for ten years.  He was battling drug addiction and mental health issues and had been arrested several times for being homeless. When he came to Umatter2, he was living temporarily in a hotel room and needed food. We provided him with food and kept in touch in case he would be willing for us to arrange for his housing. After two weeks, John agreed to go to Miller's Vets, a homeless shelter for veterans near Plymouth. We encouraged him to take shelter there while we worked with him to find help for his addiction. We gave him several "missions" to do with the understanding that once he was in control of his addiction and working toward health that we would supply him with a truck and help him find a place to live.

 

Upon completion, we supplied him with a car to take his driving test, which he passed with flying colors. Three weeks later we secured his apartment and supplied all the household items he needed for his new home. He has been living in the same apartment for a year and a half. On John’s last birthday, we celebrated his success by buying him a bird that he wanted for companionship. He named the bird Buddy.

 

After John moved into his apartment, he came back to UMatter2 to become a full-time volunteer. He has been clean and sober for two years now and is only looking forward to better things.  When he tells his story to other veterans, he says that UMatter2 saved his life.

 

Regards,

 

Sylvia King

Founder of U Matter 2 Inc.

 

How to contact us.

 

 

Our operating hours are:

Monday through Friday - 9am to 5pm

Weekends - By appointment only.

Holidays - Closed

Please use the phone number above.  Leave a detailed message if we are not able to answer right away.