Three afternoons a week, a group of veterans meets at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Nebraska Innovation Studio as part of a therapeutic program that provides an outlet for their creativity, a space for camaraderie, and helps them develop a renewed sense of purpose.
Through the Veterans in Recovery program, veterans are trained on using wood lathes and spend time turning wood blanks into beautiful pens. The process takes a great deal of patience, focus and creativity, but mastering this woodworking skill brings a sense of pride in a job well done.
Since 2018, the Veterans in Recovery program has met at Nebraska Innovation Studio. Over the last six years, the program has grown to incorporate approximately 30 veterans each month, and approximately 227 veterans have been helped. Monthly memberships for the veterans are paid for through private donations,…
