Non-profit G.I. Garage holds ruck march

G.I. Garage is a non-profit organization that was established in February of this year that aims to assist veterans in transitioning back to civilian life.

The founders, William Webb, Kristjan Ainsworth, Stephen Gardner and Michael Olson, are all veterans themselves and said they knew that there was a need to help those, who have sacrificed so much, to simply help to return to a normal life.

“We want to be a one stop shop and be able to offer them everything from housing, job placement services, training for jobs, physical fitness, and most importantly mental health therapy,” Webb said.

They currently have an establishment located at 5205 Browns Bridge Road Suite D Cumming, GA 30040, but are expanding to the Dahlonega area within the coming months.

Gina Little, CEO and Operator of Dream Power Therapy of Dahlonega, Ga., has partnered with G.I. Garage to assist with the mental health therapy of veterans.

“I provide Equine therapy for disabled and handicapped persons and it is all inclusive, it not just physical disabilities,” Little said.

Little specializes in trauma recovery and addictions which often go hand in hand with veterans suffering from traumatic experiences while serving.

“The untreated trauma with military and first responders is what causes the ‘22’ a day with the suicide rates and equine therapy is one of the top therapies for that,” Little said. “It gives hope, it gives self-esteem, it gives relief from the trauma issues immediately and it is tailored for each person.”

G.I. Garage intends to combine equine therapy with peer support and vocational rehabilitation to be able to provide what they call a ‘one stop shop’ to meet the varying needs of all who may come to this organization.

Recently, G.I. Garage has partnered with North Forsyth High School to do a Ruck March in an effort to not only raise awareness about their organization but to highlight the need for the services they offer.

The first annual Ruck March is schedule for Nov. 13 at 10 a.m. at North Forsyth High School and all are welcome to attend.

G.I. Garage is encouraging people to reach out and to take advantage of the services offered and said they can be reached at (706) 973-2780 or their Facebook page “G.I. Garage Services”.

“We want to let them know that there is help out there and they are not the only ones who have been through the transition process. There is hope, there is a place to go, there is people who want to help and we are those people,” said Webb.