Today we’d like to introduce you to Carolyn Cash.
Hi Carolyn, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
After retiring from the US Navy in 2011. I was looking for comradery and stumbled upon the DAV Wake County Chapter #1 members at the Golden Corral in Garner 2014. In 2014, I joined DAV Wake County Chapter 1 with a simple heart to serve. I believed in the mission of supporting and advocating for our disabled veterans and their families, and I wanted to be part of something bigger than myself. What started as membership soon became ministry. Over the years, I learned the true meaning of service — standing in the gap for veterans in crisis, helping families find resources, assisting with emergency needs, attending community events, and building relationships rooted in respect and honor. DAV became more than an organization; it became a family. I served faithfully, learning from strong leaders who showed me what commitment and compassion looked like in action. Through committee work, outreach efforts, and hands-on service, I grew not only as a member but as a leader. I was a chapter service officer helping veterans file disability claims. I served as the chapter Treasurer and Junior Vice Commander before being elected as Commander.
Then in 2024, I was entrusted with one of the greatest honors of my journey — I was elected Commander of DAV Wake County Chapter 1. Becoming Commander was not about a title. It was about responsibility. It meant leading with integrity, advocating fiercely for veterans, strengthening our chapter’s presence in the community, and ensuring that no veteran feels forgotten. It meant carrying the legacy of those who served before me and creating pathways for those who will serve after me.
Today, my commitment remains the same as it was in 2014 — to serve with heart, excellence, and unwavering dedication. I am grateful for every veteran who trusts us, every family we have supported, and every member who continues to labor alongside me. The journey from member to Commander has been one of growth, faith, resilience, and purpose.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Leading a veterans organization is deeply rewarding — but it also comes with very real challenges.
One of our greatest ongoing struggles has been securing donated funds to maintain our chapter building and vehicles. Our building is more than brick and mortar — it’s a safe place for veterans to gather, seek help, and find community. But buildings require upkeep. Vehicles require maintenance. Utilities must be paid. And unlike large national organizations, chapters operate heavily on local donations and community support.
There are moments when you look at the budget and wonder how it will all come together.
Another challenge has been securing consistent volunteers for outreach efforts. We are passionate about showing up — community events, veteran assistance, legislative advocacy, and fundraising — but we need boots on the ground. Many of our members are aging veterans. Some have health challenges. So recruiting younger volunteers and sustaining engagement has required creativity, persistence, and prayer. fundraising and advocacy is also demanding. Ensuring that veterans’ voices are heard at the local and state levels requires time, relationship-building, and strategic effort. It’s not always glamorous work, but it is necessary work.
We have been blessed with incredible community partners. One of the greatest examples is A & M Premier Roofing and Construction, who generously provided us with a free roof. That blessing was more than financial relief — it was a reminder that the community believes in the mission of serving veterans.
That roof represents partnership. It represents favor. It represents hope.
Through every challenge, we continue to stand firm in our purpose: serving those who have served.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
At the Disabled American Veterans Wake County Chapter 1, we are not just a meeting place — we are a lifeline.
What We Are Known For
1. Strong Chapter Service Officer (CSO) Work
We specialize in hands-on assistance with disability claims. We walk veterans through the process of filing, appealing, and understanding their VA benefits. We don’t just hand them paperwork — we sit with them, advocate for them, and follow through. Our reputation is built on results, compassion, and persistence.
2. Emergency Relief Assistance
When veterans are facing crisis — loss of heat, eviction threats, utility shutoffs, temporary housing needs — we respond. We act quickly and with dignity. Veterans know they can call our chapter when life becomes overwhelming.
3. Community Care & Fellowship
Provide Transportation to VA appointments
Thanksgiving Meals for veterans and families
Christmas support and holiday assistance
Bingo at the VA Hospital to bring joy and connection
“Just B Kids” fundraising efforts to support causes that impact families
Informational seminars that educate the community about veteran benefits and available resources
We are present. We are active. We are engaged.
What We Are Most Proud Of
We are most proud that veterans trust us. They walk through our doors knowing:
They will be heard.
They will be respected.
They will not be treated like a number.
We are proud of the lives impacted through successful disability claims — because behind every approved claim is a veteran who can now breathe a little easier financially.
We are proud that during the holidays, no veteran connected to us feels forgotten.
We are proud that even when funding is tight and volunteers are few, the mission never stops.
What Truly Sets Us Apart
1. Personal Connection
We don’t just process paperwork — we build relationships. Many of the veterans we assist become active members and volunteers themselves.
2. Community Partnerships
We believe in collaboration. Through partners like A & M Premier Roofing and Construction — who generously provided us with a free roof — we have seen firsthand how community and veterans can stand together.
3. Grassroots Commitment
We are not driven by prestige. We are driven by purpose. Every fundraiser, outreach event, seminar, and hospital visit is powered by people who genuinely care.
4. Leadership That Serves
As Commander, I believe leadership is about stewardship . Our executive board works tirelessly to protect the mission, strengthen the chapter’s infrastructure, and ensure sustainability for the next generation of veterans.
At the Disabled American Veterans Wake County Chapter 1, we are known for advocacy. We are proud of impact and we are set apart by heart.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
The most important lesson I’ve learned on this journey is that leadership is stewardship, not status.
When I joined Disabled American Veterans Wake County Chapter 1 in 2014, I simply wanted to serve. When I became Commander in 2024, I realized leadership isn’t about holding a title — it’s about carrying responsibility.
I’ve learned that:
You don’t lead people — you serve them.
You don’t own the mission — you protect it.
You don’t stand in front — you stand in the gap.
There have been financial pressures, building repairs, vehicle maintenance concerns, volunteer shortages, and legislative efforts that required more stamina than I thought I had. But through every challenge, I learned that consistency matters more than convenience.
I’ve learned that:
Integrity builds trust.
Relationships sustain organizations.
Community partnerships strengthen vision.
And faith carries you when resources fall short.
Most of all, I’ve learned that when you lead with heart — people will show up. Veterans will trust you. Community partners will believe in you. And the mission will endure beyond you.
This journey has taught me that leadership is not about being in charge.
It’s about being accountable.
And that lesson has shaped not only how I lead — but who I am becoming.
Pricing:
- Free Services for veterans and their families
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ncdav1.org/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100071734311850
