Local connection gives countywide effort added meaning in Edgewater

An organization highlighted this week for offering free mental health support to veterans and first responders has a direct Edgewater connection: its founder, Jordan Snipes, serves as an officer with the Edgewater Police Department. That makes the story especially relevant for local readers, not just as a county feature but as a look at work being led by someone in Edgewater’s own public-safety community.

According to WESH, Snipes founded Speak Up, Tomorrow Needs You after his own military experience and the loss of fellow service members to suicide and mental health struggles. He said no one should reach a point where they feel there is nothing left to live for. The nonprofit has grown from a small effort into a broader community-based support network for people who often carry trauma quietly, including veterans, law enforcement officers, firefighters and other first responders.

What the group says it provides

The report says the nonprofit is 100% volunteer-based, with no compensation for board members or staff. Services described by the organization include community events, licensed therapy and critical incident debriefings. Every board member is either a veteran or a first responder, a detail the group says helps build trust with people who may be reluctant to ask for help through more formal channels.

That practical support matters in Volusia County, where the report cites data showing at least 70,000 veterans live in the area. For Edgewater residents, the story also stands out because the organization’s outreach is not abstract or far away. One of its signature events, the annual 22 Miles for 22 Walk held during Suicide Prevention Month, travels through Port Orange, New Smyrna Beach and Edgewater. More than 200 supporters joined last year, according to the report.

Why Edgewater readers may want to keep this on their radar

Mental health coverage can sometimes feel broad or impersonal, but this item is rooted in a local officer’s work and in services available close to home. The message from organizers is that support should be easy to reach, judgment-free and community-driven. That can be especially important for families of veterans and first responders who may be looking for resources before a crisis develops.

WESH also noted that the group wants to keep expanding its reach along the coast. For Edgewater, that means residents may continue seeing local events, awareness efforts and opportunities to connect with the nonprofit in the months ahead. Anyone needing immediate help can call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. For a city where many residents have military, law-enforcement or public-service ties, this is the kind of county story with clear and direct local value.