![Drew Winkler is pictured in uniform while deployed to Iraq. [SPECIAL TO THE NEWS BULLETIN]](http://127.0.0.1/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/ghows-DA-6eb5ec54-684d-49bc-e053-0100007f6a6f-775aad3a.jpeg)
CRESTVIEW — The Winkler's Wish Foundation is having a Facebook fundraiser to increase efforts to help military veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder.
The money will fund the monthly peer group meetings and dinners the nonprofit organization hosts for area veterans. It will also be used for foundation literature and outreach items.
The group has raised $700 of its $2,000 goal at https://bit.ly/2HufK82.
Rebecca Winkler said, "We chose to do a social media Facebook fundraiser to reach the many people who had heard our story about losing our veteran son to suicide from PTSD but are not in our local area. It also allows for raising funds without having a physical fundraiser."
The meetings are 6-8 p.m. the fourth Monday of each month at Crosspoint Church, 2250 P J Adams Parkway, Crestview. There are sometimes guest speakers who present useful information or provide veterans services.
Foundation meetings started with three to five veterans in 2017. They have grown to 10 to 15 veterans and their families.
Winkler said she and her husband, Richard, began the meetings after their son, Drew, died May 30, 2016 by PTSD-related suicide. His last message, posted via Facebook, referenced himself as one of the 22 veterans a day lost to suicide.
"We quickly realized there were no peer group meeting opportunities in Crestview, Fla. for veterans. We started the meetings with nothing but faith and less than $500 in the bank … We have heard over and over from veterans that when they left the military they felt completely alone with no support system. We provide veterans the opportunity to help themselves by connecting with and helping other veterans. We also, by allowing the veterans to bring family members if they choose, are able to provide support to the family members of veterans," Rebecca Winkler said.
Veterans and their family members may contact the foundation via Facebook message for assistance or support until the organization's website is complete. The mailing address is Winkler's Wish Foundation, 2260 South Ferdon Blvd., Box 263, Crestview, FL 32536. The phone number is 305-7761.
Here are some additional resources the Winklers have compiled.
Started by veterans' families
•Winkler’s Wish Foundation, https://www.facebook.com/winklerswish
•LCpl Janos V Lutz Live to Tell Foundation, https://www.facebook.com/LutzLiveToTell
•Project Miller 22 Plus 1, https://www.facebook.com/22plus1/
•22 Too Many, https://www.facebook.com/22TooMany/
•Life for 22, https://www.facebook.com/LifeFor22. It posts a significant amount of really good links and articles, with an emphasis on veteran PTSD, Winkler said.
Additional Florida groups
•Team Red White and Blue, Fort Walton Beach, https://www.facebook.com/groups/TeamRWBFtWalton
•Healing Paws for Warriors, Fort Walton Beach, https://www.facebook.com/healingpaws4warriors
•Heroes on the Water, Emerald Coast chapter, https://www.facebook.com/HeroesOnTheWaterEmeraldCoastChapter
•Healing Tools for Warriors, DeFuniak Springs, https://www.facebook.com/HealingToolsForWarriors/
•WWP Peer Support Group, Northwest Florida, based in Navarre, https://www.facebook.com/groups/229843110701988/?ref=group_header
The Veteran's Health Administration's link to get email updates on PTSD-related information is https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USVHA/bulletins/1f40995.
The National Institute of Mental Health also has good information specific to PTSD at https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd/index.shtml.
This article has been updated to correct the foundation's mailing address previously provided to the Crestview News Bulletin.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: PTSD-affected family helps veterans