Project Sanctuary recognizes that the whole family serves, and believes the best way to “support the troops” is by supporting the family. We work with veterans and active-duty service members and their families with our exclusive, three-part A.R.T. (Assess, Reconnect, Thrive) program, combining counseling, education, self-development and recreational therapy to help reconnect and build well-adjusted families. The program starts with a six-day, outdoor, therapeutic retreat in a healing environment and continues with ongoing family support services for the service member and the family members for two years following each retreat. Project Sanctuary takes military families from battle-ready to family-ready.

"We just finished up with our retreat yesterday and I just wanted to email you and thank you and everyone involved for this wonderful experience. People like yourself and all the amazing staff, volunteers, donors, sponsors are very rare to come by.... My kids had such an awesome time participating in all the activities.They made friends with the other kids and volunteers at childcare. They were all so amazing. But, the biggest thing I personally give thanks for is the PTS class. This class is the reason my husband is seeking help today as I write this email. I knew something was going on with him, but Albert is the type to play things down and act like everything is ok. But, after sitting in the PTS Class, he came to the realization that he needed to talk to someone. He realized he does need help and he is acting on it. So, I just wanted to say thank you so very much from the bottom of my heart." ~Military Spouse (2016 Retreat)

Our volunteers are a key component of our program (and of our success) at Project Sanctuary. We have a team of volunteers at each of our retreats, helping with the youth program, with logistics, with kitchen duties, with activities - and with making the retreat experience one of healing and of transformation for our military families. With 27 retreats scheduled across the country in 2017, we welcome new volunteers!

For those interested more in events or in "behind-the-scenes" activities, Project Sanctuary can put your talents to use, too. Join us as a member of our volunteer team for the annual O.P.S. (Operation Project Sanctuary) Gala in May. Volunteer power is definitely what makes the gala possible! Or practice your graphic design skills by volunteering your talents for our collateral, or put your fundraising skills to use. Again, we welcome you!

Suggested Donations

• Board games for family game night during retreats ($25.00)
• Gas card for a military family in crisis ($50.00)
• Food card for a military family in crisis ($100.00)

Funding Needs

With 1,800 families on our wait list, and almost 900 families currently being served, financial support is critical to our ongoing success, allowing us to continue providing high-level care while also supporting expansion in order to meet the constantly growing needs and numbers of military families who reach out to us for help. And our program works: 90% of families served are still intact, and at a time when sadly 22 veterans lose their lives to suicide each day, after serving more than 3,300 individuals, we have only one fallen warrior.

87 percent of Project Sanctuary’s funding directly supports military families through assessment and crisis intervention, counseling, therapeutic retreat programming, and ongoing support services for at least two years.