Peaceful Reboot

JUPITER, FL – June 29, 2017 – Land of the free, home of the brave.” The United States’ emblematic tagline that is exclaimed at the end of the national anthem could have an unwritten verse that contributes directly to our ‘freedom’ designation, “home of the brave that fight for our country.” Those that sign up to join military forces and unequivocally put themselves in harm’s way become part of the stronghold protecting the freedom that others, including the writer of this article, enjoy. Therefore, military service members are deserving of others’ respect and understanding—what they do is not easy, and they should be commended and attended to in every possible way, particularly when they come home.

However, there are those who feel that efforts need to be duplicated to add comfort and greater quality of life to those who served overseas and have come home, those who go above and beyond for their sake and well-being, and in Jupiter there isn’t a name that resonates more with these types of individuals than the Renewal Coalition. The Renewal Coalition is an independent charitable organization who’s mission is to assist post-911 military service members and their respective families in their transition from military service to civilian life or back to active duty by offering a retreat experience at a Jupiter location while providing these families with a relaxed, pleasant, and welcoming environment. The property in question, which encompasses four adjacent residences facing the Loxahatchee River, speaks for itself in terms of mass appeal. Imagine trading desert-like, inhumane battlefields for aqueous views, sunny skies, and lush, verdant vegetation for a setting where a slew of activities to suit all tastes occur. These waterfront residences are generously made available by Sara Lankler, Renewal Coalition’s Founder and Director.

“Our program has always focused on creating an environment where military families can renew their family bonds,” says Lankler. “We want them to gradually and safely participate in community activities and feel the support and respect that community volunteers offer.”

Renewal Coalition’s Executive Director Mary Hinton adds, “The heart of the Renewal Coalition is to make sure that our soldiers know that we care about them; that we are here to support them in terms of bringing them together with their families and strengthen their respective relationships with their families.”

During the active and intense years of the war many military service members returning from Iraq and Afghanistan were spending months and even years in a variety of rehabilitation centers or military hospitals around the country. While the stays at such centers can be rehabilitating, transformational, and lifesaving, the healing process can be a tedious experience for both the wounded warriors and their families. With this in mind, Renewal Coalition sought to assist these families by providing a peaceful setting outside the hospitals where they could relax, and socialize with people with whom they felt comfortable.

The organization wasn’t always in Jupiter. It actually began as a veteran’s program run by Lankler along with her late husband Sandy in Buckeystown, Maryland in 2007. They supported veterans taken to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center by providing service members and their families a “weekend away” from the hospital. According to Lankler, these weekends away were generally the first-time families were together outside the hospital rooms. She saw how crucial this time was for families to reconnect and resume a bonding process in a safe and stress-free environment.

In 2009, the program shifted to Jupiter-Tequesta, Florida. “The move to Jupiter expanded the program so we could offer more service members more opportunities year-round,” explains Lankler. “We expanded from a weekend to five days, and over the years, the number of retreats grew too—from four to 12 annual retreats.”

When the service members arrive, each family settles into their own private waterfront residence. Although the program lasts a mere five days, it isa perfect chance for service members to reconnect with their families, reconnect with fellow veterans, and reconnect with themselves.

“They can reboot here, along with their families, and gradually distance themselves from their unrelenting issues,” adds Hinton. “We find that once we can get them into our environment, it throws a new perspective on their issues and we can help them to better cope. We understand how devastating the visible and invisible wounds are and we feel we can be there to help in the healing process. The new, once-
a-month, five-day program offers a variety of recreational activities and different social experiences with a cadre of remarkable volunteers.”

Volunteerism and community involvement plays a critical role in each retreat. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are cooked and donated by local volunteers and organizations; they share boats and farm spaces with the wounded warriors and their families; they sponsor restaurant outings; they babysit; they chauffeur veterans to various locations around Jupiter and even pick them up and drop them off at the airport. More importantly, Lankler notes, “they show non-stop respect and appreciation to the service members and their families.” Although there are over 350 volunteers currently linked to Renewal Coalition, and that number grows with each retreat, extra sets of hands are always welcome, and it’s easy to get involved by signing up through their website.

As far as activities are concerned during the soldiers and families’ stay, they get to pick. They can choose to participate on many activities or none at all—and that’s because the retreat’s objective is one of stress-free choices with a direct emphasis on family unity to overshadow long periods of turmoil and hardship and not a series of events requiring obligatory attendance. The families can choose from a long list of activities that include: Deep sea fishing, spa treatments, water slide excursions, jet skiing, sporting events, art therapy, golf outings, yoga, trips to local attractions, or just private time at the beach or movies.

“One of the great things about our program and the activities we offer is that I get to see Jupiter, where I’ve lived for so many years, through their eyes,” says Hinton. “And it looks pretty good. This community is so inviting to them.”

In addition to their numerous activities throughout the retreat, Renewal Coalition offers “Date Night” on Monday nights, in which volunteers will babysit the families’ children, so the husbands and wives can go to one of Jupiter’s premier restaurants, where they receive a “no price” menu so the couple can enjoy a much deserved, romantic night out without financial concerns.

As a matter of fact, there is no cost for anything for every veteran and family members that takes part in one of Renewal Coalition’s retreats. The organization covers absolutely everything: Plane tickets, lodging, meals, activities, transportation, along with every other tidbit that might arise. But in order to sign anyone up for a retreat, Renewal Coalition performs their due diligence in examining each candidate. Each veteran is properly vetted and referred to the program by their trusted military contacts, hospitals, or caretakers, which include the United States Marine Corps Wounded Warrior Regiment, the United States Army Warrior Care and Transition Program, Semper Fi Fund, the USSOCOM Care Coalition, the United States Navy SEAL Museum, Veterans Adaptive Sports, among others. According to Lankler, while this may be a vacation-like getaway, it is not. The retreat’s focal point is one of healing.

“We don’t have a regimented program, rather we set an expectation that the purpose of the five-day Florida visit is to focus on family bonding, healing, and making new friends,” says Lankler. “Our program is not for individuals who want yet another free ‘getaway’ without the focus on family bonding.”

And it is that focus that is maintained throughout the retreat and after it. When the service members and their families leave, Hinton makes it a point to follow up with most of them to offer support; to see how life is at home; to ensure that the family is getting the benefits that they need; and to provide further assistance if needed.

“The continued contact is an important part of our program,” confirms Lankler. “We want to project the fact that, with us, they have a support system.”

So, how is the Renewal Coalition able to provide these services for these families, spared no expense? Donations, foundation grants, and fundraiser events are the catalysts that keep the wheels of the organization spinning. The Renewal Coalition hosts a number of events, chief among them is their annual event “Chefs Helping Heroes,” an evening of gourmet dining, music, and dancing in which well-known local chefs offer their talent and service to cook for attendees. This past April marked the organization’s sixth consecutive annual installment of “Chefs Helping Heroes.” Other notable annual fundraisers that benefit the Renewal Coalition are the Major Samuel “Swacq” Griffith Memorial Golf Tournament, which usually takes place in June, and the Tequesta Fire Rescue & Tequesta Brewing Co. Chili Cook-off in November.

Since its move to Jupiter in 2009, the Renewal Coalition has hosted over 56 retreats with well over 700 wounded military personnel and families of wounded military personnel participating in these retreats. Additionally, Renewal Coalition has partnered with CAMO, whose mission is to provide well-trained service dogs to injured service members. This partnership has to date provided, at no cost to the service members, six professionally trained service dogs. The training for service dogs for military service members in wheelchairs can cost CAMO up to $50,000 and PTSD-trained dogs are less.

To Lankler, being able to partake in the healing process of each one of these individuals leaves her with a full heart.

“I feel that I am making a small contribution to others,” affirms Lankler. “We often say that we who work with Renewal Coalition receive more benefits than the service members. The retreat experiences are humbling. The service members have experienced so much difficulty that is contrary to healthy civilian living. They need our support as they re-learn and regain the thinking, the feelings, the trust of strangers necessary for relaxed family and civilian living. Because of their challenges and the brave ways they confront their issues, my priorities are constantly under scrutiny. I complain less, I am more emphatic, and I am more thankful for the often overlooked blessings in life – like walking, using my hands, sleeping without nightmares, and the ability to walk into a crowd and not be frightened. I am thankful because I don’t live with the many different shades of war. Therefore, Renewal Coalition is my very small way of offering our service members the acknowledgement and appreciation they have earned.”