Following a life-altering accident, Laura Herfy decided that she wanted to find a way to continue to help fellow veterans. She had fallen off a 100 foot cliff and was essentially paralyzed at the time. “Thankfully, I was able to recover and come out of the situation mostly healed. However, this was a pivotal moment in my life; I knew that I needed to adjust and find ways to give back that were within my current ability. I decided that I wanted to devote my time and energy to creating a safe space for veterans. It was at this time, that the conceptualization for People of Impact began,” she said.
In 2014, she started searching for the perfect location to fulfill her vision. Herfy told the Tribune that when she saw the property, she knew immediately that it would be the future home of what is now lovingly deemed, “Freedom Lake”. The property was for sale as part of a Veteran’s Trust; the structures on the property were actually built by the Veteran who had owned it previously. She stated that she felt it had all fallen into place perfectly. Then in January of 2023, Herfy purchased the property and People of Impact had officially found its home.
According to their website, the non-profit provides a place for veterans to focus on their future and acquire new skills. They provide transitional housing where residents are able to become empowered to lead a life of self-reliance and dignity. The residents are able to focus on their goals while residing in a safe location. There are three levels of transitional living that veterans will advance through on their journey to independence. Throughout the process, they are offered guidance from house managers. The house managers themselves are in long-term recovery and are directly supervised by a social worker.
The property spans across five peaceful acres, with the main building having availability to house up to thirteen veterans at a time. There are also four apartments located in another structure on the property. In addition to providing living arrangements, Freedom Lake also offers a variety of activities; these aim to further enhance the residents’ daily quality of living. Some of the activities include fishing, farming, bee-keeping, and yoga. There is also a supervised gun range located on the property, which is overseen by the Sergeants in Charge. The Sergeants in Charge also live on the property; they are able to assist the residents when needed. They also help ensure that all proper safety procedures are followed…