Here's a little glimpse behind the scenes at life in our transitional housing programs for Veterans. Angel, a resident at the Hearn House in Santa Rosa, recently taught fellow Veteran Kevin how to play guitar. Moments like these are a big part of what makes our programs successful. From the moment a Veteran walks through our doors, they are welcomed by a community of peers who understand what they have been through and who offer belonging, genuine friendships, and encouragement on their path to healing and stability.

Spending time around animals can help reduce stress, ease feelings of anxiety, and support emotional well-being. Sometimes, this looks like therapy dogs visiting our Veteran homes. Other times, it looks like a day on a farm surrounded by goats. Recently, residents of Windsor Veterans Village visited Goatlandia, a farm sanctuary where rescued animals get a second chance at the good life. During the outing, residents got to meet the goats, connect with fellow Veterans, and enjoy a relaxing afternoon in the sunshine. Moments like this are what turn a residence into a home and neighbors into friends. – at Sebastopol, CA

We’re honored to share that Nation’s Finest has received $562,500 in continued funding from the @DeptVetAffairs to support our suicide prevention work across California’s North Bay. Through the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program, our team helps Veterans and their families access the support and resources they need, especially those who may not be connected to VA health care. Suicide is a complex issue that has no single cause. No one approach can end it—but prevention is possible, especially when Veterans find support before a crisis happens. Since 2022, our Fox grant-funded program has supported 200+ Veterans across Lake, Marin, Mendocino, and Sonoma counties. We're grateful to the VA for helping us continue this work and reach more Veterans in our communities. Learn more: nationsfinest.org/nations-fi…

Behind every strong community is a deep appreciation for the military members who serve and protect it. Earlier this month, Nation's Finest brought active-duty service members, Veterans, and local community members together for a Military Appreciation Picnic during Blue Star Families Welcome Week. We’re beyond grateful for every connection made, meal shared, and story told. Thank you to everyone who helped our military families feel welcomed and appreciated by the community they call home. #BSFWelcomeWeek #NorthernNevada #CarsonCity

Pull up a chair in honor of those who served. Join us next week at Charlew's Tap House for a Dine & Donate Fundraiser benefiting Veterans and their families. 10% of proceeds will be donated to Nation’s Finest - Redding to help provide local Veterans with housing assistance, mental health care, employment services, and more. Event Details: Date: Tuesday, 10/27 Time: 11 AM - 8 PM Location: 1901 CA-273, Anderson, CA 96007. We hope to see you there and appreciate your support of the Veterans in our community.

All day today, every donation made to Nation’s Finest through Live Solano Give Solano will support Veterans families who call Vallejo, Fairfield, Vacaville, Benicia, Suisun City, Dixon, and Rio Vista home. Your gift helps our team meet Veterans where they are, connect them with essential resources, and walk alongside them toward lasting stability. Give before midnight tonight: ow.ly/9L9F50ZVu9B #SolanoCounty #Vacaville #LiveSolanoGiveSolano

At midnight, Live Solano Give Solano begins — a 24-hour opportunity for our community to come together and support the people and organizations making Solano County stronger. For us, that means standing with the Veterans and families who call our community home, in Vallejo, Fairfield, Vacaville, Benicia, Suisun City, Dixon, and Rio Vista. They are our neighbors, coworkers, and community members. When they need help, we want them to know their community has their back. Your gift helps Nation's Finest connect Veterans with housing, mental health support, employment, and the resources to build a more stable future. Give starting at midnight: linkly.link/2vMQV #LiveSolanoGiveSolano #SolanoCounty #Vacaville

We're proud to welcome Christina Ramos as Nation's Finest's new Chief Development Officer. As we expand across California, Arizona, and Nevada to serve even more Veteran families, Christina will lead efforts to build the partnerships and philanthropic support that make our growth possible. Christina brings decades of leadership and service, most recently serving as California State Regent of the Daughters of the American Revolution, where she led more than 9,500 members statewide. In that role, she rallied DAR members to support our Veteran housing programs, including helping renovate a Sacramento home for formerly unhoused women Veterans and their children. Now she’ll build on that impact by deepening existing partnerships and cultivating new ones, helping us reach more Veterans and their families. Read the full announcement: nationsfinest.org/nations-fi…

When accessing care feels complicated or overwhelming, having someone in your corner can make all the difference. Brandy Wilson and Jason Majko recently represented Nation’s Finest at the VA’s Annual Health Care Navigator Conference in Denver. We’re grateful for the opportunity to strengthen partnerships, advocate for the needs of the Veterans we serve, and bring home new resources that will help remove barriers to care. #ServingVeterans #StrongerTogether #VeteranAdvocacy

Join us tomorrow for a Military Appreciation Picnic & Food Distribution event in Carson City. Veterans and active-duty military members (and their +1) are invited to join us for a complimentary lunch in appreciation of their service. Lunch will also be available for purchase for community members who'd like to join us in supporting and celebrating those who served. After the picnic, we’ll be distributing groceries and pantry staples for Veterans and their families to take home. With the cost of everyday essentials continuing to rise, we hope to give military families one less expense to worry about. As a @BlueStarFamily Outpost, we’re proud to create a space where Veterans, military families, and community members can build community, share a meal, and receive support. #BSFWelcomeWeek #BlueStarFamilies #CarsonCity

Lauren Hutton, Lead Clinical Case Manager at Nation's Finest, reflects on how peer support, consistency, and genuine connection play an essential role in suicide prevention by helping Veterans feel seen and supported. #SuicidePreventionMonth #SPM2026

As Suicide Prevention Month comes to a close, our Veteran Peer Support Specialists Alex, Hannah, and Rob have a message to share with their fellow Veterans. #SuicidePreventionMonth #SupportVeterans #SPM2026

For many Veterans, the biggest barrier to getting help is distance. Some Veterans live hours from supportive services. Some lack reliable transportation. Others simply don’t know where to turn. Our Mobile Service Units (MSUs) exist to close that gap by bringing our team, our resources, and our relationships directly to Veterans in the communities where they live. Each MSU outing connects Veterans with support for housing, employment, education, health and wellness, and benefits navigation. Our staff sit down with Veterans face to face, listen to their situation, and help them find a path forward. @LockheedMartin has been a steady partner in making that possible. Their long-term support of our Mobile Service Unit program helps us meet Veterans where they are, no matter how far that may be. Thank you, Lockheed Martin, for standing with Veterans year after year.

Nation’s Finest was proud to join the Bob Woodruff Foundation National #GotYour6 Summit in San Francisco last week. The Summit brought together leaders from across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to share ideas, build connections, and talk about how we can better support Veterans, service members, military families, and caregivers. We’re grateful for the opportunity to connect with others doing this work, learn from one another, and bring new ideas and relationships back to the communities we serve. The best part of gatherings like this is connecting with people tackling many of the same challenges from different angles. Those relationships make all of us better at the work we do. #GotYour6Summit26 @bwforg

When we think about suicide prevention, we often think about crisis lines, emergency intervention, or difficult conversations. But prevention is also the work that happens long before someone reaches a breaking point. It can look like helping a Veteran find a safe place to live, access mental health care and employment assistance, navigate benefits, case management, or build community and connections. Suicide prevention looks different for everyone. If you or a Veteran you know is going through a difficult time, please reach out. We’re here to help. #SuicidePreventionMonth #MentalHealth #Veterans

Historically, Stand Down was a military term for bringing troops off the front lines and into a secure base camp where they could rest, clean up, eat, and receive medical care. Today, Stand Downs serve a similar purpose in our communities, giving Veterans experiencing homelessness or hardship a safe place to connect with essential support and resources. Nation’s Finest is participating in many upcoming Veteran Stand Downs across California, Arizona, and Nevada: • Sept. 24–26: Sacramento Stand Down • Sept. 24–26: North Coast Stand Down (Fortuna, CA) • Sept. 25: Washoe County Stand Down (Reno, NV) • Sept. 25: Yavapai County Stand Down (Prescott, AZ) • Oct. 1–3: Butte County Stand Down (Chico, CA) • Oct. 2: Santa Cruz Stand Down • Oct. 2: Twin Arrows Stand Down (Flagstaff, AZ) • Oct. 17: Lake Havasu City Stand Down (Mohave County, AZ) • Nov. 5–6: Santa Clara Stand Down (San Jose, CA) Can't attend but still need assistance? Call us at 1-833-468-9676 or email [email protected].

For Blue Star Families Welcome Week, Nation’s Finest is bringing our community together next week at our Military Appreciation Picnic and Food Distribution event. Veterans and active-duty military members (and their +1) are invited to join us for a complimentary lunch in appreciation of their service. Lunch will also be available for purchase for community members who'd like to join us in supporting and celebrating those who served. After the picnic, we’ll be distributing groceries and pantry staples for Veterans and their families to take home. With the cost of everyday essentials continuing to rise, we hope to give military families a little breathing room and one less expense to worry about. Event details: Friday, October 2nd 11 AM–1 PM: Military Appreciation Picnic 2–4 PM: Food Distribution 2900 Research Way, Carson City, NV 89706 As a @BlueStarFamily Outpost, we’re proud to create a place where Veterans, military families, and community members can build community, share a meal, and receive support. #BlueStarFamilies #NorthernNevada #CarsonCity

Raise a glass in honor of those who served. Join us at Logic Ciderbar & Alehouse in Redding from October 2nd–4th for a Sip & Support Fundraiser benefiting Nation’s Finest. Throughout the weekend, 10% of all sales will be donated to help provide local Veterans and their families with housing assistance, mental health care, employment services, and much more. Can’t attend but still want to support our mission? Donate here: secure.qgiv.com/for/reddingn… #SupportVeterans #ShastaCounty #Redding