Orange County Breeze
by Orange County Breeze Staff
On June 23, the Orange County Community Foundation (OCCF) will host Stand & Salute – a collaborative online Giving Day aiming to raise $175,000 for five local nonprofits serving veterans and their families in Orange County.
According to the 2021 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report, veterans accounted for 6,261 suicides in 2019, which represented nearly 14% of suicides among U.S. adults. A Pew Research Center study found that 35% of veterans said they had trouble paying their bills. This percentage alarmingly increased among veterans who suffer from post-traumatic stress – a staggering 61%. In Orange County, home to 130,000 veterans, financial and housing struggles remained prevalent as homeless veterans increased by nearly 25%. These challenges have been exacerbated by rising inflation and the rising cost of living.
