Holistic Outreach for Veterans

09/14/2025

09/14/2025

HOV Anniversary Jenga!

Kim and Don battled it out!@

09/05/2025

📣 Mark Your Calendars!

Just a friendly reminder — the monthly Veteran breakfast at Wahoo BBQ this month has a special guest: John Reid, Republican candidate for Lt. Governor of Virginia!

🗓 Date: Saturday, September 27, 2025
⏰ Time: Come early to grab a seat! Official start is at 8:30 AM (doors open at 8:00)
📍 Location: Wahoo BBQ
💵 Cost: $12 cash for breakfast
📝 Annual Dues: $5 — you can sign up at the breakfast (see Carrol Kinsey)

We’re hoping for a great turnout, so bring a friend and come hungry! Donations to support our group’s administrative costs and future contributions are welcome — checks accepted and tax deductible.

No need to RSVP — just show up!

08/22/2025

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USVHA/bulletins/3eedd3c

Colorectal cancer didn’t stop this Veteran Veterans Health Administration sent this bulletin at 08/21/2025 05:30 PM EDT View as a webpage Veterans Health Care August 21, 2025 Colorectal cancer didn’t stop this Veteran Navy Veteran Sam Stornelli's life took an unexpected turn when he was diagnose...

08/21/2025

𝐌𝐲 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐒𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝. She kindly mailed me a paperback copy of her book, and there is also a Volume II https://a.co/d/iz3oNQh

I believe every veteran—male or female, from all backgrounds and ethnicities—should read it to hear firsthand the contributions of women in the military. These stories span not only recent times but also reflect the vital roles women have played since the formation of this country, and likely even before that. Despite their service, women have often gone unrecognized and underappreciated.

As a woman, I could write a chapter myself—starting with a recruiter who tried to take advantage of me, the catcalling, and the constant need to go above and beyond to prove my worth in the unit I served in.

Still, despite all of that, I am proud of my service. I sometimes discount it because I was “only” a reservist, but I made the most of every opportunity. I went to San Diego every chance I got during those six years to receive as much hands-on training as possible.

Being a woman in the military is not easy. I saw many young mothers who enlisted seeking a better life—some already mothers, others who became mothers during their service. Their bravery, courage, tenacity, and perseverance in navigating a system designed to make fighters of us all is nothing short of impressive.

Please consider ordering Volume I on Kindle, or reach out to me if you’d like me to help you get a paperback copy. And don’t forget to order Volume II—I already have!

VOL. II – From TRIALS to TRIUMPHS – UNTOLD STORIES OF OUR MILITARY WOMEN These are the untold stories of our military women who are serving and have served our nation and the stories of their spouses, parents, siblings, caregivers, survivors, and communities that are serving and have served a...

08/21/2025

Calling All Veterans, Spouses & Caregivers! 🌟

We’re excited to invite you to our upcoming Holistic Outreach Events — a chance to relax, connect, and enjoy FREE services in a welcoming space at Salon DeShano!

🗓 Monday Night HOV Nights @ 6:30 PM 📍 Salon DeShano
Upcoming Dates:
• August 25, 2025
• September 22, 2025
• October 27, 2025
• November 24, 2025
• December 22, 2025

👉 Find all events here: facebook.com/HolisticOutreachForVeterans/events

🎖️ Save the Date: Veterans Day Ceremony at FUMA
📅 November 11, 2025 | 🕚 11:00 AM
📍 Fork Union Military Academy
Join us for a moving ceremony and a delicious lunch with cadets and instructors. More details coming soon!

🤝 Volunteer & Board Member Opportunities
We’re growing and looking for passionate people to join us!
Do you or someone you know have skills in:
• Recruitment
• Marketing
• Financial Strategy
• Or simply a heart for helping others?

We have 2 board positions open and meet bi-monthly on the first Monday at 6:30 PM. Let’s make a difference together!

🌐 Coming Soon: Our New Website!
We’re working hard to launch before the end of the year. Stay tuned!

🙏 Thank you to all our volunteers, board members, and veterans who make these events possible. We’re honored to serve and grow with you.

💙 The HOV Team

Holistic practitioners offer FREE services, including massage, Reiki, and Acudetox, to veterans, their spouses, and caregivers on the 4th Monday of each month from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM at SALON DeSHANO in Palmyra.

07/29/2025

🎉 Happy 6th Anniversary, HOV! 🎉

A heartfelt thank you to Mission BBQ for the amazing meal, and to Jeff and Jaqui DeShano for opening up SALON DeSHANO to us tonight—and every 4th Monday of the month!

This milestone is a testament to Kim Munson’s powerful vision to support others, especially veterans like her son, Kile—her “why” and inspiration behind it all. 💙

Here’s to many more years of impact, community, and connection. 🥂

07/11/2025

Thanks for a great article, Tricia Callahan and Lake Monticello News!!

A great big thank you to everyone who has made HOV possible for 6 years!!

Munson’s Holistic Outreach for Veterans Celebrating Sixth Anniversary

Laker Kim Munson created Holistic Outreach for Veterans (HOV), a free-of-charge mindfulness and holistic health organization to help alleviate stress for the Lake area’s veterans and their spouses/caretakers, six years ago this month.

In that time, she has brought together a group of local practitioners who volunteer once a month to help any veteran or spouse/caretaker who wishes, as Munson said, “to be loved on a bit.” Typically, Reiki; Head, Scalp & Foot massage; and AcuDetox services are offered at no-cost for this community.

Munson’s son is a Marine veteran who “came back from a tour in Afghanistan not the same.” She has seen how the effects of battle affect the minds and bodies of veterans, and she started HOV as a way to help. In offering HOV’s services to others, she says, “I’ve found my purpose.”

Munson said “we could all use more relaxation in our modern, stressful world. HOV is a place where veterans can take a break and enjoy. There’s no judgement – or need for them to feel that they are sick or need help - to become part of our community.”

There’s no registration or sign-up: if you are a veteran or military spouse/caretaker, meet Munson and her team at Salon DeShano from 6:30pm – 8:30pm on the fourth Monday of each month. Enjoy a mini-treatment, have a snack, and share your stories with other local veterans.

HOV offers a free Sound Bath event every Memorial Day weekend. The organization also recently hosted its Annual Sunset Boat Cruise, where boat owners volunteer to take service recipients around the Lake. That happens each June.

Munson said she’s immensely grateful to HOVs current board and volunteers, but is always on the lookout for new practitioners to join (especially massage therapists), and other volunteers to assist with social media, administrative and fundraising activities. There are additional calls for assistance for the special events held from time to time.

Whether you’re a veteran, a practitioner, or just someone who cares about the wellbeing of our veterans, please contact Kim Munson at holisticoutreachforveterans@yahoo.com or 434.249.1806. A website - holistic4veterans.org - will come online soon.

By Tricia Callahan