Every Third Saturday (ETS) was founded in 2009 by Tom and Jessi McKenna and became a 501(c)3 in 2016.
ETS provides a space where Veterans and their families can connect, grow, share experiences, and build community.
WHO WE ARE
& WHAT WE DO
ABOUT US
Fostering Hope and Supporting Post Traumatic Growth for Veterans.
Mission
Respect. Compassion. Resilience. Community. Integrity.
Values
Faith stands at the cornerstone of everything done at ETS and will always be our bedrock. Modern medicine can treat the physical injuries a Veteran sustains in service, psychiatry can assist with the emotional difficulties, such as PTSD, depression, and anxiety, but we believe that the wounds to the soul, which many Veterans struggle with, cannot be healed without divine intervention and a belief that we are all here for a purpose.
The Marrier family's dedication has had an immeasurable impact on our capacity to support Veterans in the Twin Cities. What's even more remarkable is that we've forged genuine friendships, enhancing our effectiveness in serving others.
ETS will forever be grateful to the Marrier family for their generosity and the unwavering energy they infuse into everything they undertake. We eagerly anticipate many more years of collaboration as we persist in aiding Veterans who have faced challenges following their service, spanning employment, finances, relationships, health, and faith.
In 2009, as our founders Tom and Jessi were concluding a quilt pick-up at a small Wisconsin church and preparing to return to the Twin Cities, a serendipitous conversation sparked an unexpected mission. The topic of homeless Veterans emerged almost casually. Deb Marrier, a woman at the church, was moved to ask about the mention of "homeless Veterans,". Tom confirmed the conversation and explained their practice of acquiring supplies on a modest scale and personally distributing them to homeless Veterans in the Twin Cities. Deb disclosed that she, along with her husband Scott and their family, had been contemplating how to contribute to this specific issue for the past month.
They were eager to take tangible steps to assist Veterans who found shelter in cars, under bridges, in the woods, or anywhere safe, warm, and dry. Little did we know, this was the birth of Every Third Saturday (ETS).
HOW IT ALL BEGAN
OUR IMPACT IN 2023
Veteran visits in 2023
3,000+
Community events hosted at ETS in 2023 for Veterans & their families
12
Warrior’s Return Graduates in 2023
43
Boots distributed during New Boot November in 2023
150+
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
We are always in need of more volunteers. We welcome individual volunteers during the week or groups to help support events! Thanks for your interest in being a part of this amazing team.
Volunteer
Help stock our free supply store by donating clothing and hygiene items to support Veterans and their families. Or drop off snacks to stock the shelves of our Veterans Resource and Empowerment Center (VREC).
Donate
We cannot do this without the support of our wonderful partners. To explore giving opportunities or join our fundraising events, contact us today.