Valor Clinic has big plans to expand, help veterans

There is a mint green building in the West End of Monroe County. A wooden fence borders the side of the house, while a stone stairway leads to the entrance. It mirrors the Poconos of yesteryear, for it has a turn-of-the-century look that is whimsical and inviting.

It used to be called Hotel Jonas. The hotel is now closed, but the community helped turn a negative into a positive by turning it into Paul’s House, a veteran retreat center. It is run by the Valor Clinic Foundation, and they are looking to grow locations beyond this historic building.

Valor began construction on a new veteran retreat center in White Haven. They had a groundbreaking ceremony on May 18 to celebrate. This new retreat center became possible because of a grant from the Dale and Frances Hughes Cancer Center. Valor provides services to not just veterans, but also to their families as well.

“The retreats are helping our veterans readjust back to civilian life,” volunteer worker Kathy Kuck said. “It hasn’t been easy for them, and so a lot of the education we provide is more like counseling. It’s peer-to-peer, so it’s veterans talking to veterans, which is something very important to them.”

Valor had developed a counseling program by thoroughly researching other programs suited for veterans. This program allows them to build a life plan around life subjects, such as religion, work and family.

Kuck said that it can be difficult for veterans to open up to their loved ones, for they are coming from “two different vantage points.”

Valor not only provides counseling, but also allows their veterans to stay at the retreat center. Additionally, they provide clothing, food and various hygiene products at events which they call “Stand Downs.”

“We see a lot of homeless people, not just veterans,” Kuck said. “We won’t turn anyone away.”

One of the locations Valor provides food and goods at is Dansbury Park, located in East Stroudsburg. They are typically there on the second Sunday of the month.

Kuck said it is a challenge getting veterans the proper help, because civilians don’t understand the experiences they went through.

Veterans might also feel disconnected to the workplace, Kuck said. The regimented routine of being in the military is much different from working a job that might be mundane in nature.

Valor wishes to expand nationally, but they face challenges due to the company being nonprofit. Donations and volunteers are essential for their sustainability.

“We rely on everyone. We rely on the community. We rely on the businesses,” Kuck said. “We only have one paid employee. That’s the house manager for Paul’s House, where the veterans actually live.”

Valor has plans to create a marble display in each state, honoring the veterans who have passed from suicide. These displays will be open to the public, located close to the retreat locations.