February 2026 Community Update
Focus on suicide awareness, Valor Commons groundbreaking, and pizza for a cause
New VA Report, Same Call to Action
This month, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs released its latest Veteran Suicide Report. The data reinforces what we shared in our January update—and why our community’s involvement continues to matter.
On average, 17 veterans die by suicide each day in the United States. In Florida, the veteran suicide rate remains over 10% higher than the national average, translating into hundreds of lives lost each year. These are not just statistics—they represent neighbors, families, and fellow residents in communities like ours.
🔗 View the VA Veteran Suicide Report:https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/suicide_prevention/data.asp
That’s why we’re continuing to bring Watch Stander training to Azario.
🎯 WATCH STANDER TRAININGTuesday, March 3, 2026 | 6:00 PM | Azario VenueGoal: 50 Azario Residents Trained
What is a Watch Stander?
Think CPR for suicide prevention. You’ll learn to recognize when a veteran may be in crisis and guide them to help using the VA SAVE method. No military or clinical experience needed—just a willingness to learn practical skills that can make a difference.
👉 Register on the NIS Team Reach Event Calendar
Building Something Historic for Our Veterans
Earlier in January, Valor Commons officially broke ground, marking an important milestone for veteran services in Manatee County. A number of Neighbors in Service members attended the January 14 ground-breaking ceremony, joining county leaders, veterans, and community partners to celebrate the launch of this long-envisioned project.
Located on a 24-acre site in north Manatee County, Valor Commons is being developed as a Veterans Connection Hub and Memorial Campus—a welcoming, centralized place where veterans and their families will be able to navigate services, find peer and caregiver support, gather for community events, and reflect in thoughtfully designed memorial spaces.
Project leaders shared that early-phase site work is already underway, focusing on core infrastructure such as utilities, parking, and initial memorial elements. The goal is to have some services available within approximately one year, with the full campus continuing to build out in phases. Long-term plans call for Valor Commons to transition into an independently operated nonprofit to ensure sustainability and community stewardship.
The strong turnout at the groundbreaking underscored the broad support behind this initiative. Neighbors in Service looks forward to continuing to engage with Valor Commons as the project progresses and to exploring ways our community can support its mission in the months ahead.
Your Voice Matters: Take the County’s 5-minute survey on veteran services.
Survey: https://www.surveylegend.com/s/64em
Learn More:
https://valor-commons-manateegis.hub.arcgis.com
When Community Clubs Unite for Heroes
The Azario Italian Club’s inaugural Pizza for a Cause was a terrific example of resident-led community impact. Organized and led by the Italian Club, the event raised $2,078 in support of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, which provides mortgage-free homes to Gold Star families and specially adapted homes for catastrophically injured veterans and first responders.
Neighbors in Service was pleased to support the effort by helping promote the event across our club membership and broader community network, and to see such strong participation from residents in support of this important cause.
We join the Azario Italian Club in thanking the team at Olive & Vine for preparing the pizzas and Chris McDonald, Food & Beverage Director, for his continued support. We also extend appreciation to Joseph Bonanno, FDNY firefighter and Tunnel to Towers Ambassador, for being onsite and helping make the evening a success.
Most of all, we commend the Azario Italian Club committee for their leadership, dedication, and hard work in bringing this inaugural fundraiser to life. Grazie mille to everyone who helped make a difference.
As a reminder, Neighbors in Service stands ready to support and help promote Azario club initiatives focused on veterans, military families, and first responders. With so many philanthropic and community-minded efforts underway across Azario, we welcome opportunities to collaborate and help amplify resident-led impact.
Get Connected
📱 All event details, registration, and participation information are available on: Neighbors in Service Team ReachAccess Code: AZNIS4VETS
Upcoming highlights include:
Watch Stander Training – March 3, 6:00 PM at the Azario Venue
Ongoing opportunities to support veteran-, military family–, and first responder–focused initiatives across our community
If you are part of an Azario club or informal group planning an activity that supports veterans, military families, or first responders, Neighbors in Service is ready to help promote and support your efforts.
Questions or ideas?📧 Contact: Jack McGourty | drjack@neighborsinservice.org