Giving back to veterans

The South Texas Afghanistan Iraq Veteran Association (STAIVA) is a nonprofit organization in Brownsville run by UTRGV students who help educate, advocate and dedicate time to empower veterans in Cameron County.

STAIVA offers veterans four main programs: the General Assistance Program, Warrior in Transition Program, medical vouchers and a food pantry. 

Executive Director Shonda Leggett-Martinez said the association wants to help veterans transition from a military to civilian setting. 

“We learn that most veterans commit suicide more once they get out, than they do when they’re in the military,” Leggett-Martinez said.

She said they host the “Salute to Veterans” event in November to bring awareness of suicide and post-traumatic stress disorder in veterans. 

Leggett-Martinez said they want to open a new location.  

  “We’re wanting to expand to, at the least, the San Benito and McAllen area, because we have a lot of people saying ‘we want something like that down here,’” she said. 

UTRGV students can volunteer and apply for a work-study job with the organization.

To become a member, students can visit the STAIVA office at 519 E. Madison St., and pay a fee to receive a monthly newsletter with information about upcoming events and volunteer opportunities. 

“We try to link up the veteran’s work-study or their dependents with things that can help the organization out,” Leggett-Martinez said. “So, if you’re going to school for accounting, you’ll probably be in our accounting department. If you’re going to school for psychology, LPC [licensed professional counselor], social work, you’re probably going to be doing more case management, and then everything else varies. We try to not just have them do a work-study but prepare them for what they’re trying to do in life.” 

STAIVA also accepts monetary donations. 

 Assistant Director Esteban Alonso Ramos, a political science senior, said he joined the organization because he is a veteran himself and wants to help others in the community. 

“If I see a veteran that actually is having some difficult time actually trying to get a specific job, I contact them first, ask them what is going on … what are the obstacles,” Ramos said. “Sometimes, they come up with, ‘I need certain training and for that training I need to pay a certain amount of money,’ or ‘I need this equipment,’ and stuff like that, and that’s when I come in.” 

He said this experience has impacted his life in a positive way because it is rewarding to see veterans achieve their goals.  

“We have a lot of cases where these individuals, specifically, we were able to help them in the beginning and then they come back once they have a nice job and they’re all set up and now they look back and [think], ‘I remember when I was in need. [The] STAIVA program was there since the beginning,’” Ramos said.

He told The Rider one of the things he enjoys about his job is to see veterans succeed. It motivates him to continue helping the community.

Ramos encourages students to get in contact with STAIVA to contribute or participate in the organization.