Who We Are
Veteran founded and operated
After many years of working with active duty, reserves, and veterans (homeless and disabled), we have been fortunate to experience the multitude of caring for these individuals. We see that there is a need and when we opened our hands, it gave encouragement to the homeless. This homeless crisis isn't over just because we want it to be. It takes a lot of time, money, and hands on work to alleviate their suffering.
2021 Events
Check back for future events
Continuous- 2nd Saturday of every month support to the Monsignor King Outreach Center in Denton, TX
January 2021- Warriors Keep Gala
February 2021- Texas Winter Storm Homeless support
April 2021- Irreverent Warriors Silkie Hike Support
September 2021- 9/11 Remembrance (TBA)
October 2021- Annual Kit Up
November 2021- Annual Kit Up
south mountain vet-us
We are a 501(c)(3) Not-For-Profit organization aimed at providing humanitarian services, assistance, and training to homeless and disabled veterans and their families. Our goal is to assist these individuals with acquiring emergency shelter and food, access to specialized health care and mainstream services, obtaining specialized training for future employment, and equip them to be self-sufficient and regain their confidence within society.
Our desire is to bring hope back to the homeless. By partnering with like-minded organizations, we can end veteran homelessness. We don't accept that homelessness is something that cannot be solved. Help us give them a safe place, a clean bed, and a warm meal.
Services
Shelter, food, clothing, training
Initially we are working with the local homeless to give them a warm meal and clothes. Not all homeless want a permanent place to live and we understand that. We are working to guide them down a path to self-sufficiency which would include: specialized job training, mental health treatment, and drug/alcohol dependency treatment. Our goal isn't to fix homeless veterans but give them an opportunity for a fresh start.
About us
To contact us, please fill the contact form.
South Mountain Vet-US was founded by Michael and Shilan Leisure and they also serve as members of the Board of Directors. After volunteering with veteran and homeless organizations for decades, they decided to form South Mountain Vet-US at a community level in north Texas. With the inspirational words of
"Am I my brothers keeper?"
they locate and assist homeless veterans and their families with emergency shelter, food, clothing, and specialized care.
Michael Leisure
USMC
Retired
Shilan Leisure
USMC & Army
Veteran
Board of Directors
Joe Derrick
Marketing Director
Robert Healey
First Responder
Outreach Director
Founders
Karalyn Martin
Communication and Veteran
Outreach Director
Rob is currently a Lead Engineer at Cushman & Wakefield supporting the Ericsson account in Plano, TX. Before that, he served as a New York City Police Officer for 20 yrs. During his time serving as a police officer, Rob was assigned to different Positions and Job descriptions. He worked on Patrol, Plain Clothes, Anti-Crime, and Conditions unit and was also a PBA Union delegate.
Rob is a founding member and President of the Ancient Order of Hibernians. The AOH is a Non-Profit Irish/Catholic Fraternal Organization that promotes friendship, unity, and Christian charity. The organization sponsors and donates to many community organizations throughout the country.
Rob is also a member of the Saint Gabriel Guardians Ministry. This is a group of Retired and Active Military and Law Enforcement Professionals, who are protectors of the Clergy and Parish Members during Mass and other events. He has had many members in his family that served in the military or law enforcement.
Joe served in the US Army from 1967 – 1970. He was deployed to Vietnam from 1968 - 1970 with the 9th Infantry, 2nd/42nd/Mech/HHQ. His military training included Basic/AIT at Ft. Dix NJ. & and OCS/Inf at Ft. Benning GA. Prior to entering the service, Joe graduated from Texas Tech University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration/Major in Marketing.
After leaving the US Army, Joe’s career included 1) Buyer for Macy's Department Stores/Dallas, sales exceeding $250M, 2) Regional Director for The County Seat Stores, sales exceeding $350M, and 3) Operations Mgr/Project Mgr/Call Center Mgr for National/International Companies including Computer Sciences Corp, Hilton International Hotels, Waldenbooks, General Dynamics, Pratt Whitney Canada, Nortel, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, and other major IT Companies.
Upon retiring, Joe has been involved with 1) Santa Claus in the DFW area, 2) Member of Traumatic Brain Injury Council of Texas (having lost a child due to brain injury), and 3) Local assistance with the homeless, which resulted in the City Council of Lewisville TX, in 2020, designating March 2 as "Joe Derrick Day".
Karalyn (Kara) Martin is a United States Marine Corps veteran from Texas. She enlisted in the USMC at age 17 and attended boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina. Kara was an Aviation Hydraulic Structural Mechanic. She served 5-1/2 years in the Marine Corps to include one forward deployment to Iwakuni, Japan and one combat deployment to Operation Enduring Freedom in 2011.
She overcame many obstacles while serving in the military and upon her honorable discharge she obtained a cosmetology license. Never satisfied with sitting idle, Kara went on to earn her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and her Master’s degree in Social Work with a concentration on veterans’ services and mental health issues.
Kara is active in many other veteran non-profit organizations throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area to include being a veteran’s resource officer in the criminal justice system. She is a wife, a mother of Irish twins and her two dogs. Helping her fellow veterans is truly her passion in life.
