Faith, Action, and Community: Inside Alabama’s First Nonprofit-Led Veteran Resource & Decompression Center

Mark White | The Mark White Show

Cherokee, Alabama - Something extraordinary is happening in Colbert County, something not born from government plans or political platforms, but from the hearts of people who care.

At the center of it all is Wendy King, project coordinator and visionary behind Community Unity 360 (CU360), a nonprofit coalition of believers, veterans, and small business owners working to create the first nonprofit-led resource and decompression center for veterans in the state of Alabama.

Where It All Began

“It was a collaboration of a lot of good folks,” Wendy explained. “Business people, Christians, and veterans themselves.”

The idea began over a decade ago, when Wendy and others became deeply aware of the struggles faced by displaced veterans across Alabama and Mississippi, including the staggering statistic that 22 veterans a day take their own lives.

“We wanted to see what could happen to change those numbers,” she said. “What could we do as a community?”

That vision led to the purchase and restoration of a 44,000-square-foot historic school building built in 1936, now being transformed into a one-of-a-kind center for peace, healing, and reconnection.

A Place for Healing, Reconnection, and Purpose

Unlike traditional institutions, CU360 is veteran-inspired and veteran-run.

“What veterans have told us they need most isn’t more paperwork or another clinic,” Wendy said. “They need a place to reconnect.”

The center will provide:

• Spaces for camaraderie and decompression, from cornhole tournaments to campfire gatherings

• Equine and animal therapy partnerships, with trained service dogs through Barnes Animal Services

• Fresh produce and meat access year-round for veterans and families in need

• Faith-based and peer counseling with clergy and fellow veterans always on site

  
  

“When a veteran walks in, we want them to immediately feel comforted,” Wendy shared. “This place will be run on military time, with veterans greeting veterans. It’s about restoring dignity, not starting from zero, helping from a leaning position, not from the ground up.”

Faith in Action and Community Support

Though CU360 has not received government funding, the outpouring of local support has been remarkable.

“Over $120,000 in goods and services have already been donated,” Wendy said. “That’s A1 businesses, tree services, roofers, realtors, musicians, all stepping up with what they have.”

Through businesses across the Shoals, the network keeps growing. Even the owner of the building, Jeff Cooper, turned down higher private offers to ensure the property would serve this mission.

“He could’ve sold for three times as much,” Wendy said. “But he waited on us. That tells you everything about his character and the kind of people standing behind this effort.”

The Power of Decompression

When asked why the concept of “decompression” matters so much, Wendy didn’t hesitate.

“Too many veterans are imploding,” she said. “We’re supposed to be more connected than ever with phones and technology, but we’ve never been more isolated. Decompression means getting face-to-face, not texting, not scrolling. It means peace, quiet, and being understood by someone who’s been there.”

Outdoor experiences are a big part of that plan, including veteran-led camping excursions, canoe trips, and fishing retreats.

“When you’re in nature, distractions fade,” Wendy said. “You find quiet time. You breathe. And sometimes that pause keeps someone from making a devastating decision. We believe this will be a catalyst in lowering those suicide numbers.”

A Faith-Driven Movement

When asked about the biggest challenge, Wendy pointed to the scope of the project, 44,000 square feet of renovation on a building that sat empty since 1981. But she was quick to add that faith keeps them moving forward.

“The biggest challenge has been the size, but God has shown up every step of the way,” she said. “Veterans, business owners, neighbors, they keep showing up. No sales pitch, just heart.”

As Wendy put it, “We’ve had wars since 1865, and we’ve never done anything like this. The numbers tell us it’s time.”

How You Can Help

Community Unity 360 is located at 240 Allsboro Road in Cherokee, Alabama, and is now welcoming visitors and volunteers.

“Your honorable discharge is your ticket in the door,” Wendy said. “No red tape, no retelling your story 17 times. Just walk in and be served.”

Volunteers, donors, and partner organizations can also connect through CU360’s Facebook page or by visiting their Valley Credit Union account to contribute directly.

As Wendy put it best:

“Sometimes, you don’t need someone to fix it. You just need to be heard. And that’s what this place will be, a place where veterans can be heard, find peace, and rediscover hope.”

Cherokee, Alabama, may be small, but through the heart and vision of Wendy King and her team at Community Unity 360, it’s becoming home to something mighty, a living reminder that real change doesn’t start in Washington; it starts in our own backyard.