Help Us Create a Suicide-Safer Community for Veterans and Their Families!

The name “Campaign 22” was created in honor of the 22 Veterans who died to suicide every day since 2010. That year The Long Walk Home’s founder, Ron Zaleski, walked barefoot across the country to raise awareness for Veteran suicide. His dedication to service is embodiment of what The Long Walk Home stands for. Every day is an opportunity to provide Veterans and their families with the support and resources that will help them have a safe, productive transition to civilian life. By becoming a Campaign 22 Member and making a monthly gift of $22 or more, you are demonstrating the ultimate commitment to this mission.

The obstacles that Veterans face are widely known–a disproportionate suicide rate, substance abuse, and PTSD just to name a few. Given the Department of Veterans Affairs’ widely known inefficiencies, TLWH fills critical gaps in services for the Veteran community. Today, 17 -22 Veterans are still taking their lives daily. Until that number is zero, our work must continue.

Our approach to serving Veterans is unique from other organizations because we do not exclude families. When a Veteran faces difficulties during their post-military transition, their loved ones often experience the fallout of this. Suicide, PTSD substance abuse, and divorce can devastate a family. Understanding the broader consequences of these problems, we give military families access to all the same resources and experiences that we provide Veterans.

Since it was founded 2006, The Long Walk Home has passionately worked with Veterans and their families and served as a resource for them to readjust to civilian life. The organization was originally based in the Florida Keys, where it operated a shelter for homeless Veterans. There, hundreds of Veterans were provided a temporary home. Since relocating to Venice, FL, The Long Walk Home has hosted dozens of local events and established its flagship Mentorship Program. The Mentorship Program teaches valuable personal-development skills that give Veterans and their loved ones the tools to acclimate to a new lifestyle. We also provide suicide intervention workshops, educating the local community on how to identify and prevent a suicidal crisis. The Long Walk Home has helped thousands of Veterans and families in the last 16 years, and we look forward to helping thousands more in the years to come.

Thanks to the generosity of individual donors and foundations, we don’t charge Veterans or their loved ones for these resources. As a Campaign 22 Member you are ensuring the longevity of The Long Walk Home’s transformational programs, enabling us to serve more Veterans in Florida and across the country. Thank you for investing in a brighter future for Veterans!

When you become a member, you help us to serve the over one hundred individuals we have served this year alone—and you help us to serve the hundreds more we expect to help in the months to come.

The Long Walk Home's Mentorship Program is our signature core program. Our mentorship Program provides personalized guidance for Veterans and their families, keeping them engaged and empowered in the transition from Military to Civilian life.

Our signature Mentorship Program is the 1st step to making a shift to empowerment by being of service. This is accomplished through challenges and extensive networking to direct people to the proper services. It's not necessary to be a Veteran to help. Family and friends also need empowerment and mentoring. Our cost for each person to take our Mentorship Program and complete the 10 Challenges to Service is $1600.00. We offer this service at no charge.

Our programs are known to save lives.

Our signature prevention program is a two-day workshop called Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) by LivingWorks. ASIST is a proven method to help people who are thinking of suicide stay safe for the immediate time. We are making this resource available to Veterans, our Mentors, family members, and caretakers. Our cost for each person to attend this course is $800.00. We offer this service at no charge.

Funded directly by Campaign 22 membership donations, ASIST teaches skills that enable helpers to better discuss the topic of suicide, and it is one of the best evidence-based programs for creating a suicide-safer community. On average, confidence to help someone at risk increases from 35% to 100% for the participants involved in our workshops.

Our signature Mentorship Program and signature Prevention Program are free to Veterans and family members. With your generosity, we at The Long Walk Home are able to continue providing this service to our Veterans.

The benefits of joining:

1. Knowing your are contributing to a great cause and helping to save lives
2. Free car magnet to show your support
3. Free t-shirt to the first 10 members
4. Annual zoom meeting with our founder, Ron Zaleski, to get updates and see what we've been up to.
5. Being part of a compassionate group of people
6. Free book for support at the $66/month or higher level. You'll also receive a signed copy of Ron Zaleski's new book, The Long Walk Home: A Veteran's Barefoot Journey Across America.

With much gratitude for your support in becoming a member of The Long Walk Home's Campaign 22. Our team: Ron Zaleski, Terri Miller, Cody McElhinny, Ron Newhouse, Selena Stamm and our board members.