by Ana L. Palles

We hear often enough about the amazing impact that just one person can have in making a positive difference.  There are many wonderful people that "Pay It Forward" each day through their acts of kindness and compassion for others.  These special individuals actively choose to make a difference by investing their time, hard work and dedication to actively help fix a problem.  People like Dr. Barbara Romberg, President and Founder of Give an Hour, who saw a serious problem and established an organization of volunteers to provide support and much needed help.

Give an Hour is a non profit, non partisan organization establishing a network of mental health professionals donating an hour of their time to provide free mental health services to our returning U.S. troops and their families.  Give an Hour fills an existing gap in current military mental health programs by extending their services to parents, siblings and unmarried partners who have been affected by the current conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. 

With the high incidences of suicide among returning veterans, and after experiencing the impacts of the Vietnam conflict on our population, Give an Hour is performing a critical service for healing and restoration for our community as a whole.  The folks at Give an Hour are dedicated to making a difference and want our returning veterans to know that help is only a phone call away. 

Take a few minutes of your time to check out their website. Contact Give an Hour to volunteer your skills and make a positive difference for healing in the community.

If you are a veteran and need help, there are folks ready to assist.  Contact the National Veterans Hotline:  1-800-273-TALK (8255).

THE NATIONAL TOLL-FREE CRISIS MANAGEMENT, INFORMATION & REFERRAL LIFELINE FOR VETERANS AND FAMILIES, 1-888-777-4443, seven days a week, 9:oo a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Pacific Time.

We at whisperingtree.net seek to highlight individuals and organizations that share our vision of restoring balance and harmony.