Impact

Project Blueberry: Rehabilitation Through Horticultural Therapy

Disabled combat vets often come home from overseas with PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) or TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury). Purple Heart Veteran Adam Burke suffered both. 90% disabled from a mortar attack while serving in Iraq, Burke needed something besides the VA’s medical treatment and therapy to improve his mental and physical condition.

Horticulture therapy is one way to help veterans like Adam reintegrate back into society. With donations from Salute American to Work Vessels For Veterans, Burke now runs Veterans Farm in Jacksonville, FL growing blueberries and employing fellow veterans.

In the same pay-it-forward dynamic of Salute American and WVFV, Adam wants to give back. He is teaching numerous vets the business of farming. That way, other vets around the country can begin growing successful businesses of their own.