OUTREACH AND EVENTS

Throughout the year, the outreach team reaches out to veterans and their families with co-sponsored events and presentations to the community. To request a presentation on Military 101, PTSD 101 or to learn more about partnering with us on future events, contact ashton_kroner@rush.edu

VOLUNTEER

FEATURED EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR

Soldier Field 10-Mile
Monday, May 30

Celebrate Memorial Day Weekend with this classic 10-mile race along beautiful Lake Shore Drive. The race begins inside Soldier Field with a tribute to our fallen heroes and ends post-race with a full day of music and festivities on the grounds outside the stadium. Road Home is the official charity of the Soldier Field 10-Mile.

Veterans Softball Tournament
Beverly Park, July 23

In partnership with the Chicago Park District and Chicago Sport and Social, the Road Home Program invites veterans and their families for a day of fun – DJ, activities, bouncy houses, Mission BBQ and a 16-inch softball tournament. Saturday, July 23 at Beverly Park (2640 W. 102nd St., Chicago, IL 60655).

Registration and tickets are available at Eventbrite

Help-A-Hero
19th Ward Special Event

19th Ward alderman Matt O’Shea hosts the Help-A-Hero fundraiser from Memorial Day through July 4 including PTSD Awareness Month in June. All proceeds benefit the veteran’s mental health services at the Road Home Program. Learn more at the19thward.com.

Learn More

Turkey Drop
Tuesday, November 15

Every year between Veterans Day and Thanksgiving, JewelOsco, MolsonCoors, the Chicago Bears and the Road Home Program partner to give a Thanksgiving feast complete with turkey and all the fixings to over 600 veteran families.

Sign-up at Eventbrite (registration begins in October)

2022 CALENDAR

September 2022 (Download PDF)

Date

Activity

September 1
7pm – 8pm

AVER Chicago Chapter
American Veterans for Equal Rights (AVER) is a non-profit, non-partisan, chapter-based Veterans Service Organization of active, reserve and veteran service members dedicated to full and equal rights and equitable treatment for all present and former members of the U.S. Armed Forces, especially LGBTQ military personnel.

We meet up on the 1st Thursday of each month. Everyone is welcome to attend our monthly meetings in-person or via Zoom. For Zoom, check the averchicago.org website for the active link.

Center on Halsted
3656 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60613

September 8
10am

Coffee with Benefits by Veteranos Combatiendo el Suicidio
We will have the usual camaraderie, coffee and social hour but we will also have representatives from the Veterans Benefits Administration and American Legion to guide you through general and specific questions about applying for benefits related to your military service. Click to register: Coffee with Benefits Tickets, Thu, Sep 8, 2022 at 10:00 AM | Eventbrite

Blue Door Neighborhood Center
2551 West Cermak Road Chicago, IL 60608

September 13

JBVA Caregiver Summit
The summit is a virtual gathering of community partners to share information and resources that will assist in enhancing support for caregivers and families of veterans.

Jesse Brown VA Medical Center
820 S. Damen Avenue Chicago, IL 60612

September 19 – November 11

Veterans Mask Art Exhibit
In partnership with College of DuPage, the exhibit features masks created by veterans in the Road Home Program Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) for PTSD

Road Home is holistic in its approach to treating PTSD and other service-related mental health concerns, and a big part of that is art therapy. In the IOP, veterans have several sessions with their art therapist and are challenged to create a mask using all different mediums: the outside signifies what they show the world and what they think their families and friends want to see. The inside of the mask signifies what they keep inside: what they feel they need hide, what causes them shame.

College of DuPage Student Services Center Rm 2210
425 Fawell Blvd. Glen Ellyn, IL 60137

September 28

Veteranos Combatiendo el Suicidio
Meeting Our coalition is a diverse group of Chicagoans who believe that Latino service member / veteran death by suicide is preventable. The coalition achieves positive outcomes by bringing communities together through partnerships and connection to resources to make sure that no Latino service member or veteran feels left behind.

Blue Door Neighborhood Center
2551 West Cermak Road Chicago, IL 60608