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Toledo non-profit promotes physical health as way to help mental health for veterans

Task Force 20 is a non-profit that pays gym memberships for veterans who struggle with PTSD and other mental health issues.

TOLEDO, Ohio — The nation recognized its military veterans on Saturday but some organizations do that work every day by bringing awareness and hopefully solutions to issues that plague them.

One of those organization in northwest Ohio's Task Force 20.

Created in 2016, the non-profit helps veterans recover from PTSD and depression through physical health by paying for gym memberships. 

The organizations mission is to create a community and healthy purpose for veterans who've left active service. 

Jason Graven joined the Army 2 weeks after 9/11 and was part of the initial invasion force to Iraq in 2003. After being medically discharged from the Army, he relocated for a job.

"I was sitting in front of a computer all day, and then I'd go home and sit in front of a TV, and ended up putting on a lot of weight," said Graven. "Not knowing anybody back then, I really wasn't all that outgoing, so I wasn't really meeting new friends."

Jason became isolated and depressed. That's when he decided to join a gym. After getting in shape and feeling better, he researched the connection between physical and mental health in the veteran community. 

 "They were already showing studies that the two are directly linked. So I thought, 'if I'm not gonna do it, who is?' So we set out to provide funding to remove the excuse of not being able to afford the gym memberships," said Graven.

And with that, Task Force 20 was born. In nearly seven years, the non-profit has helped around 200 veterans get back in the gym for free. Matt Stamm is an executive board member, who has served overseas, and is currently active in the National Guard.

"It was on my first deployment to Iraq in 2007. The commander came in and talked about the triangle of death. And the triangle of death is eat, sleep, work. When you basically just do that you're gonna drive yourself crazy," said Stamm. "I started thinking about that a lot that correlates with our org is that's what we're doing. We're trying to get people out of that rut of just eat, sleep work. Or TV, drink, work. That triangle, you have to break it up."

A key to breaking up that triangle, the task force says, is the gym, where you not only build yourself up but make connections and lean on others. 

"That's the cool thing about a gym," said Stamm. "A lot of times you need spotting. You need someone helping you out. And if you try to tackle everything on your own, the task just seems too big to handle."

On Sunday, Task Force 20 is having a Veteran Meet & Greet at the Anthony Wayne YMCA in Waterville. 

You don't have to be a member but it's an opportunity for veterans to meet other veterans. 

Click here if you would like to donate to Task Force 20 and help them continue their mission. 

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