In 2013, the United States Department of Veteran Affairs released a study indicating that about 22 military veterans commit suicide every day. In 2018, a veteran committed suicide in the parking lot of the Mishawaka, Indiana VA parking lot.
Inspired by these events and their own personal struggles, medically-retired Air Force veteran Travis Pitts and his wife Angella Pitts wanted to make a difference in the lives of veterans and first responders, so they started Stop 22 Michiana. Now, the pair are getting ready to host a fundraising event and motorcycle poker run through southwest Michigan on Sept. 11 in support of their new branch, Stop 22 Southwest Michigan.
The ride will begin at Joey Armadillos in Niles and make stops in southern Berrien County and Cass County before returning to Joey Armadillos for an afterparty with live music and vendors. Proceeds from the event will go toward the purchase of a veteran community center in Niles, as well as a retreat cabin at Rainbow Farms in Vandalia.
Angella envisions the community center as a place where veterans can come to access resources for jobs, housing, benefits and to find support for any issue they may be having.
“I love the VFW, I love the VA … but veterans need a place where they can go and get a problem solved right away,” she said. “If they need a bill paid, we’ll join together and see how much the bill is, because we don’t want this to lead to a suicide.”
One thing Angella said veterans also need sometimes is just a place to get away to. That’s why she has been working with Rainbow Farms to secure a piece of land to put a cabin for veterans to have up to a three-day reprieve.
“It’s a very tranquil place on the public land area,” Angella said. “Very peaceful.”
‘People actually care’
When Travis Pitts got back from his service in the Air Force, he had combat PTSD in addition to loss of hearing and his knee injuries.
“He could barely walk,” Angela said. “He couldn’t function at all pretty much, so I had to figure out how to get housing, how to get help. Now that I know how to do those things, I can help other people. … It’s important for veterans to see that their community stands behind them and that they’re not alone.
The couple is on a fixed income, which Angela said can be both good and bad. They are in the process of transferring their 501 (c)(3) status to Michigan from Indiana, as well as trying to find a space for the community center.
“We don’t have a lot of money to put into this,” she said. “But we have a lot of time … and we know there are people willing to help.”
Angella said nearly everybody she talks to is willing to support the cause, they just need to get the word out.
“People actually care,” she said. “But the first responders, police and everybody needs to know people care.”
The ride will be making stops at Releaf Center in Niles, Stone Lake Bar and Grill in Cassopolis, The Friendly Grille and Tavern in Jones and Sherry Lee’s in Vandalia before returning to Joey Armadillos, where music and vendors will be waiting. For more information or to donate, contact Angella at (574) 485-3317.
By Ryan Yuenger
MOTM Contributor
