When we say that Dembo Jones is part of the communities where we – and our clients – live, work and do business, we follow up those words with action.

And that’s what we did in mid-October during an all-staff Day of Service.

The Dembo Jones Team spent a sunny autumn day helping with fall cleaning at “The Ranch,” a serene retreat for recovery, owned and maintained by Troops First Foundation, a Maryland not-for-profit providing assistance to post-9/11 injured warriors. Our staff also broke ground on a memorial garden at The Ranch, planting shrubs and flowers and mulching in preparation for the placement of memorial stones.

Dembo Jones team members were also introduced to a neighboring not-for-profit, Common Ground at Paradise Stables. Common Ground offers Equine-Assisted Learning (EAL) Programs to create opportunities for people to learn life skills, heal from trauma, reduce stress, become self-confident, and achieve an overall sense of accomplishment and well-being. Through the stable’s Operation Horsepower program, military members learn to drive a horse hitch, which offers the thrill of horsepower and a unique relationship-building opportunity with horses. This program is offered to wounded veterans as part of its partnership with Troops First.

Veterans shared a meal and their stories with the Dembo Jones staffers. Said Dembo Jones Managing Director Brent Croghan, “The work we did helped, but the real takeaway was the stories from the three recovering warriors. Incredible is not a strong enough word to describe what these folks have been through.”

Administrative Assistant Clare Colleli echoed this sentiment: “This service day was very eye-opening. These men not only put themselves through battle over and over again for our country, but they also have their own personal battles – some from before their service and all after their service. .”

“Supporting an organization who provides valuable assistance to returning military members feeling isolated is a very worthwhile cause,” reiterated Director Jim Green.

For more information about Troops First, check out https://www.troopsfirstfoundation.org/

For information about Common Ground at Paradise Stables, visit
https://paradisestables.com/common-ground