needed to quickly cing unprecedented 5gonnectivity across the nation. good morning. this is ns4 your sunday. >> hello. i am pat lawson muse. may is the month to honor current and former members of the armed forces, including those that diedfn the line duty. one of the organizations that supports our veterans is the wounded warrior project. welcome to our ropam. thank you so much for being here today. you called the transition from acve duty to civilian life a journey and for wounded veterans and service members it can be a challenging journey as we all know. you estimate 52,000 members

living with injuries, and half a million or so living with nvisibleounds. explain that? > we talk about invisible wounds being mental health or hysical health, and we dedicated much our resources to life-changing programs and services to help them in their transition, specifically in the living wounded area. >> technology and medicine have saved a lot of lives, the kwaup quality of lives today for many of the warriors and veterans is severely hampered, is that right? >> it is. waror care network that help warriors -- we meet them where they are and offer over a dozen programs providing these

life-changing programs, so if hi they need som related to their tphysical health inhe beginning, we triage them and refer them into other programs internally and work with others to help them where they are. >> the majority of the warriors or veterans are those that served in military conflicts since 9/11, is that right? >> yes, since 9/11,e focus the returning n those from the battlefield and their transition, and so we focus on the warriors that have served since 9/11. >> what is the biggest challenge in helping that population? >> i think the biggest challenge awareness, getting the awareness out there that we ahe here to lp them and walk themug throthe journey of uniform life to civilian life and their families, and we care deeply about our logo, it represents one warrior carrying another off the battlefield and o mostf the

time when we reach warriors they are being carried by another and iour goal to empower them so they can help others and be that warrior on the bottom. >> this program started after 9/11. >> yeah, we started in 2003, delivering csfort it at walter reed and her military cilities and we have grown to over won dozen progra nationally, and as they needed to change we changed as organization to meet them where they are. >> how has it changed? >> from the beginning, it was focused, a large volume being injured, and nowas they transitioned from the military, they still have needs. we have 1,500 signing up every moh for our services. those are warriors and family members, and s their needs have changed as they left the

military and gone back to their hometowns or other cities acess th country. >> you mentioned there are lots of programs, events and services. what are the key programs you are offering for them now? >> mental health programming,nd a physical health programming, career counseling and long-term rehabilitative care. we really focus on mental health care. we find that's the biggest obstacle for our warri whether they are job searching or they are trying to get into physical shape. it's those invisible wounds that continue to be the biggest obstacle every year, and we gett feedbaat tells us that so we focus our resources on preclinical care and clinical care and the post work, and we help them and offer programs nature based and whatever is working for them, that's what wd try a offer. >> most of the warriors that you help and the families in the washington region, or are they in other parts of the country?

all across the country, actually. the va has pockets and they tell us the region, lotsrrf rs and family members are settling from texas west and up that we have always a large contingent in this area because of walter reed and otheres faciliti around here, and so we hav a large team focused here in the d.c. office, focusing on those emergen needs. >> we are talking about the wounded warrior project and will continue our conversation headin into memorial day right after this.

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z3a5vz z16fz y3a5vy y16fy >>welcome back. we are talking about the wounded warrior project and some of the services provided to our military service members and

veterans, and mental health is a big problem and tell us about the warrior care network. >> it's a collaboration where wounded warrior project is an a umbrell over four academic medical centers who really offer innovative outpatient ograms r,r warriors with post traumatic stress disornd in order to increase access to world renowned mental health care wer s this network five years ago and are committed to providing that through those four academic medical centers. >> you not only help the veterans, the warriors, you help their families. >> families are a big part of a warrior's journey and they served as well as military famies, and most of our programs are offered to thesp ouse or a family member of the yarrior, and so we serve those

completely, and mf our events have the whole family there and we feel that's a key component for the warriorse served. >> you servedyourself. in the army? >> yes, a west point gduate class of 1993, and ai logist officer in the army. >> annually you hold a gala every year, and your gala took place in new york this past week and hosted by none other than mario lopez? >> yes. >> how did that go? >> it was great, and w had a wonderful time at the benefits itner and mario lopez hosted and it was a lovely evening with warriors and supporters and it was a magical night for the warriors especially. >> does the gala move around or is it always in the same region? >> it's annually in new york. we found that's the best place for our supporters to be, and the best part about it isthe

connection between the supporters and the warriors and a great host like mario. >> who are the supporters? >> donors and t companies, e cetera, who really believe in our mission and we help them support warriors through their donations. >> you have a lar and very active organization. where does your funding come from? >> we are completely funded by the american public, and so all private donations. we have 7 million donors across the country and we rely on the generosity of the american public. >> so people just go online and is that the way it works? >> we do. there's many different ways to donate. woundedwarriorproject.org is where many sign up but then we have community ovents likeur carry forward events where they can sign up and participate with a team and we have lots of different ways to get americans engaged io our miss >> what are some of the ways >> like i mentioned, the carry

forward events, they are in four cities across the country, and we always ask -- they can run community fund-raising events, so if they are passionate about go or a lemonade stand, we empower them and give them toolc so operate on their own, and students can get others involved in programs at their schools, so we arexcited about that as well. >> you are doing veryecessary work for veterans? t> absolutely. i believe tha the honor of my fe to help warriors transition from the battlefield. >> all well, you are doing a great job. jet's woundedwarriorp.org. >> thank you for the work you are doing on behalf of our warriors. >> thank you. next, a local program that chef-prepared of

meals to military families. we'll be right back.

for the second year an online platform called like neighbors put meals on the table prepared by chefs. theeo founder and of the organization called like isighbors. you started th project. tell us how it works. >> i did. like neighbors let's family and friends give meaning and telgible hp to their loved ones ging through a challenging time, whether it's o chemor dialysis or they just had a new baby, family and friends could get delivered meals and transportation. >> is that for military families

only? >> it is. it let's people anywhere in the country give a meal to a military family being served by fier house homes and the tredy assistance program for survivors. >> we mentioned chefs, and do the chefs work for fisher -- >> no, we partner with a company called galley based out of d.c., and they make the meals and deliver them to fisher house as we schedule them, and the meals are delicious. those are the meals people aren doing for only $15 a meal. >> fisher house is one of the organizations you work with. what does fisher hoe do? >> fisher house homes are all over the world and they are near military medical facilities, so when somebody has served and is getting treatment, they can stay

with their military family member during that treatment at no cost, but the meals are not included so they may get meals at the hospital all day or ordering pizza, so this is a thing after a long day at the hospal we have hot meals sitting there with them. >> so when u started like neighrs, what was your inspiration? >> a few years ago a friend of mine across the country had a sick little boy and it's hard when you are not around the corner to know how to hinp somebody a way that will be meaningful andtangible, and i went to sends them a restaurant meal delivery, and it was hard to coordinate and it felt retrusive to contact a family to see when and where they wanted it, and i thought there had to be an easier way to do this so i

created it. >> people can click and sendy number of things? >> yeah, the transportation and galley, if you know anybody in the mid-atlantic that can use this support whether it's long rmerm or short te, family and friends around the country can provide those services to them. >> how many organizations do you wtk with? >> af organizations, including the rond mcdonald organization, and jns hopkins center, and others to reach those we need to help. i w trying to help my friend and thought how can there not be an easier way to help somebody when you are not around the corner, so that's what we do. >> are there other costs assthiated - >> there are no fees whatsoever. we don't take a cut of anything

or charge anything extra, if you buy a meal delivery or ride, they get the full amount you a how do people find you? >> we aret likeneighbors.com. if you are interested in setting up what we call a care campaign for a loved oneou can do that on the site, or interested in donating for meals, we're taking donation for 5,000 meals through the end of may. >> it's likeneighbors.com, n not.org? dotcom.t's >> who knows when you need to lend a helping hand. >> yeah, quickly. >> for somebody near or far. >> right. >> thank you. >> thank you. next, how vetens are finding jobs in the energy industry. we'll be right back.

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dominion energy is helping veterans find rewarding careers in the industry and helping to weatherize their homes. a veteran and lineman, and the founder of operation renewed hope foundation. welcome to both of you. dennis, youere hired through dominion's troops to the energy jobs program. tell us about that program? >> i served in the united states air force from 2000 to 2004. >> you worked on f-16s? >> that was pretty cool. wh i got out of the air force i was looking for transition where i can use the same discipline and work ethics and critical pay attention to safety details, and i got ac contt with a recruiter from dominion and they had a position and i

qualified for it, and the testing, d i did well and before you know it i was a trainee to become a lineman. dominion hires a lot of veterans. you obviouslyave to be very skilled, but is there a shortage of lineman? tell us about what dominion is offering to do? >> well, one out of every five se es is a veteran, and beca of our skill set and our safety ethics it transitions well to being a lineman, and we do well with time restraint and it's a great transition from the military to the field, and so they seem to hire 20% of new hires are veterans. >> which is fantastic. colonel, you are retired and a former pilot. tell us about your service?

>> i y served 20ears as a pilot. a lot of fun. >> i bet it was. you are actually the retired founder of this foundation, which is working to put veterans in homes, correct? >>hat's right. operation new hope foundation helped 800 veterans get into housing i the metro area. >> some of the homes have been weatherized under dominion's program. tell us about the 100 homes for 100 veterans project? >> it's a program through our energy share program where we will take 100 vets if they qualify and we will weatherizer theiomes, meaning we will add installation to their attics and prevent leaks, and maybe upgrade heat pump and air-conditioners, and we do special projects like one situation i volunteered for, a disabled veteran, we installed

a wheehair ramp, so depending on your situation dominion has been customizing different projects for those veterans. >> this is a service offered to veterans in virginia? >> that's correct. and it's absolutely for free. >> so a lot of folks probably don't know about eyou? >> th don't know, but i am sure they will find out. they should contact dominion and see if you qualify because weenie mo vets to be partof the program. >> all they need to do is qualify, meet whatever the quali qualifications are and apply for the assistance? >> yeah, it's free and we will weatherize your home and it will reduce your bills. >> and it's 100 homes, that's how many they will do? >> dominion will do 100 homes.or that's cct. >> sounds like a wonderful program. colonel snyder?

>> we have had a couple homes done as wello the energy bill has been reduced because of it, and especially whenwe have older veterans that are on fixed incomes, having something like this program is very helpful. y >>u know, all of the services that we have been talking about on this program are designed to tupport veterans andir families because of the service they provided to their country. so you decided to start your foundation when? >> december 2011 is when i started it. >> what prompted you to start that? what did your foundation do initially? >> extreme makeover home addition is one of my favorite homes and to seean vet go from living in a vehicle or shelter or on the streets tovi li in a home is a big deal, and for us, you know, in the military we learn to take care of each other and so that was an extension of that is being atoe ake care of our veterans that have fallen on hard times. >> how did your foundation

hookup with dominion energso >> johnfrom dominion energy called me one time and told me about a program so it has been a perfect partnership. >> so tell us about some of the oth -- do you know other veterans who have been hired by dominion? >> i know several in m actual office in fairfax. seems likeem lot of th are veterans, so w have the camaraderie, and we share similar stories, so it seems like it's a common thing. >> how important was it for you to able to come out of the military and get a job like that? >> it was very important. the skill sets we learn in t military made it an easytr sition to work in the energy field and 12 years later i am still here ander loving ev minute of it. >> congratulations to you both and thank you both for your service. >> tank you. to see any of our news4 your sunday programs, go to nbcwashtington.com and click on "community." i am pat lawson muse. thank you so much for being with us today.

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>> powerful storms swept through our area, ripping apart trees, pulling down poer lines and leaving thousands in the dark. a look at the damage and another way. system that is on the >> firefighters in the district were at the right place at the right time when people got stuck inside a burning home.oi we're g to see how they made the rescue happen. >> and one last ride. thousands of bikers are hitting the road for what could be the final rolling thunder. find out why organizers say they'reth done wi the district. >> the end of an era when it mes to that event here our area. want to welcome u inn this sunday morning at 6:00 onhe