Voices of Gratitude from Our Veterans
Discover heartfelt testimonials from veterans and families, sharing their journeys and the positive impact of our programs.
Journeys of Courage and Healing
Resilience through Compassionate Care
Empowering Lives with Dedicated Support
5 responses to “Testimonials”
-
Working with Michelle and her team has helped me grow and give back to those who need help!
-
I am so proud to be part of Big Hearts For Veterans, I was so blessed to when I met Miss Michelle Shannon Varnes, she is such a wonderful person. My legs were hurting me so bad because I need surgery on my knee and one day I met her and told her about my knees and and the very next day she brought me a walker which is truly a blessing. Then I needed shoes to wear to church, it wasn’t a surprise she gave me a brand new pair of shoes from her shoe collection. This is a very helpful and loving organization that helps USvets who can’t help ourselves. I’m so glad to be a part of it! God Bless
-
I am incredibly grateful to Michelle and Big Hearts for helping me when I truly didn’t know where to turn.
My father is an Air Force pilot who has been dealing with serious medical issues, including several surgeries and periods when he has been unable to work consistently. He and I were overwhelmed and simply didn’t know what resources were available to help him or where to even begin.
Michelle took the time to meet with me, listen carefully, and understand the full situation. She provided thoughtful guidance, shared several options, and, most importantly, connected me with resources I would never have known about on my own. She specifically recommended that I speak with the DAV and even provided the date and time for our visit.
The DAV was also wonderful and incredibly helpful, but I would never have known to reach out to them without Michelle’s guidance.
What meant the most was knowing that someone cared enough to listen, understand what our family was going through, and help us navigate a system that felt overwhelming. Michelle gave us a starting point and opened the door to resources and support that we simply didn’t know existed.
I cannot thank Michelle and Big Hearts enough. Their compassion, knowledge, and willingness to help made a tremendous difference for my father and our family. If it weren’t for Michelle, I honestly don’t know where I would have started — and I certainly would not have known about all of the resources available to help my father.
I am truly grateful for the support, kindness, and guidance she provided when we needed it most.
-
Where do I even start? I was only at US VETS transitional housing about 1 week and that is when I met Ms Michelle, it was a very dark moment in my fairly new transitioning from being literally homeless in the streets outside abandoned buildings battling hunger, and a true place to feel like a human being (in itself).
My partner in faith August “aka” Auggie she is my ride or die Shepsky (German Shepherd/Husky. She couldn’t come stay with me right away as USVETS has a NO PETS policy- BUT AS MANY HAD TO LEARN August is so much more than a pet- she is my MEDICAL ASSISTANCE (PSYCHIATRIC SERVICE DOG) but when I met Michelle, due to the world turmoil against everything I tried to do, the broken worldly governmental operating systems, was a fight everyday.
Ms Michelle has a really close friend, Mr Robert and he was willing to help where he could.
So to get August to be reunited with me as soon as possible. As Auggie needed her vaccinations up to date (in which expired back in January 2026) he found a pop up tent (low cost pet vaccination) and he willingly picked me up (first time even meeting me), and we went and picked up August (this was my first time seeing her after 11 days prior to me moving to transitional housing). Mr Robert paid for the required vaccinations and even paid for flea/tick prevention (that was all a pretty hefty bill to cover for someone he had met through Ms Michelle. And My sweet Auggie took to Mr Robert very well, as she could sense he was there to help (God sent Ms Michelle and Mr Robert in one of the darkest times of this challenging seasons).Honestly, as I could go on and on” God was slowly building the angelic team for August and I and if it wasn’t for the ongoing knowledge and help of the two of them, Auggie and I would not have been reunited.
As I continued to persevere through the muddy waters of getting Auggie certified as psychiatric service dog, as we had a time frame to have her out from the home of the family that rescued us out of the cold and dark and lonely winter season in the streets. I was able to find emergency boarding through Houston Humane Society about 30 plus miles away. After these angels were added to the obstacle course of Auggie and my journey, Mr Robert again willingly helped pick Auggie and I in order to get her to the boarding place (in which patience paid off- as all the services provided was NO OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES except it costed alot of tears and having to temporarily LEAVE HER BEHIND! BUT one God (yes God) thing about all this was without Mr Robert and Ms Michelle none of this would have happened without God reminding me “TO TRUST AND OBEY AS HE IS THE ONLY WAY TO THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL.
And it has been very clear to see Auggie and my purpose is to show “who really is in my corner fighting for us!” NOTHING BUT GOD AND HE KNEW BIG HEARTS FOR VETERANS WERE PART OF THE LONG NARROW PATH.
If you haven’t watched the video of Ms Michelle and Mr Robert and I & The Star of the show Auggie ,you should check it out.
-
Dear Melissa,
I still remember sitting down with you that day and seeing how sad and worried you were because you thought you might not be able to keep Augie as your service dog. It truly touched my heart.
I’m so thankful that my team and I were able to step in and help. Augie is such a sweet and special dog, and seeing the two of you able to stay together reminds me exactly why we do what we do.
Sometimes helping one person with one very important need can make a life-changing difference. I’m grateful that we were able to be there for you and Augie when you needed someone.
From my heart to yours, I’m so happy we could help. ❤️🇺🇸🐾
God bless you both,
Michelle Varnes
Founder & President
Big Hearts for Veterans
-
Leave a Reply