Welcome to the "Militarily Speaking" podcast with Tom McLean and Jodi Vickery.

In this episode of “Militarily Speaking,” Tom, Jodi, and guest Kaycie Taylor, Director of Family Support with Project Sanctuary, discuss the organization supports military families in a myriad of ways - from therapeutic retreats to mental health resources and caregiver support.

“Militarily Speaking” is a podcast produced by Armed Forces Bank that is dedicated to the military lifestyle and all the things that makes the military community who they are.

Ep. 49 – How Project Sanctuary is Transforming Military Families with Kaycie Taylor

Honoring their service and offering them added support is more than just a tagline when it comes to giving back to our military families, it's a total commitment. Often operating behind the scenes, numerous organizations tirelessly strive to create better lives for military families and veterans. One such organization is Project Sanctuary, helmed by dedicated individuals such as Kaycie Taylor.

Connecting Dots with Military Families

Kaycie and her team work tirelessly to provide support for military families. She does so by not only reaching out to these families but also understanding the intricacies of their experiences and relating these to the broader military family community.

The different programs offered by Project Sanctuary, such as the recreational retreats and family support initiatives, all work in harmony to provide different facets of support that instill hope, improve connectivity, and foster healing.

Heart at Work

Project Sanctuary’s primary projects are their signature six-day therapeutic retreats. These retreats are designed to cater to military couples and their families. What sets Project Sanctuary apart is its attention to detail, focusing on an approach that is both comprehensive and relevant. The retreats incorporate a mix of recreational activities and comprehensive workshops for both adults and children, paving the way for a wholesome, healing experience.

Additionally, Project Sanctuary also offers diverse mental health resources. They ensure that every resource they extend has been vetted thoroughly, thereby taking into account key factors such as whether the military families need in-person or virtual support, the nature of their specific needs, and more. This strategic, all-round approach assures a highly personalized, deeply engaging, and effective support system.

Building Resilience

When it comes to Project Sanctuary, you'll come across countless success stories that are heartening and bound to provide much-needed motivation. What sticks out is the narrative of an individual who initially attended a retreat single-handedly, attended another retreat later as a volunteer, and later participated in a ballroom dancing competition.

This transformation underscores the positive changes and personal growth that Project Sanctuary instills. It is a testament to the organization's commitment to nurturing, empowering, and creating stronger military families.

Getting Involved

Project Sanctuary acknowledges that it owes its success to its volunteers. Volunteers form the backbone of Project Sanctuary, with 4-6 volunteers usually attending each retreat. The organization welcomes all volunteers and subjects them to a thorough vetting process.

Project Sanctuary also holds annual fundraising events such as the Rocky Mountain Gas and Oil Poker Classic and the Permian Basin Poker Tournament. These events, coupled with the active giving that fans, donors, and well-wishers provide, keep the organization running.

Project Sanctuary continues in its mission to heal and empower our military families best, allowing them to thrive both during and after their service to the nation.

Military Minute

Jodi introduces the Military Minute segment of the show, beginning by closing out last episode’s Military Minute.

●     Last episode’s Military Minute: Who is the most famous author of children's books with over 300 million copies sold?

●     Answer: Roald Dahl

●     This week’s Military Minute question: Who was the second most famous woman in America followed by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt?

●     Watch for Facebook and Instagram posts about this episode.

●     Answer with the correct answer and you plus a charity of your choice can each win $50.

●     After a winning selection, Military Minute participants are eligible for another selection after 12 months.

Tom closes the episode by asking listeners to go to www.afbank.com and subscribe to the show, as well as leave a rating and comment on your favorite podcast platform such as Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Join us to hear how to better navigate your finances, military life, and the crossroads of the two.

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