Funds Needed to Open Our St. Johns County Thrift Store
A Message From The Founder
UPDATE: March 12, 2026
Now that Once A Soldier’s Founder and CEO, Dave Barbush, has turned the corner on his cancer treatments and recovery, we have two viable options for our store’s location: One is on 1800 Jimmy Buffet Memorial Highway in Mayport. The second option is not a location, but a coalition of local philanthropists who are taking up a fundraising effort to launch the store. We need them to come through with $100,000 to make this happen. We will keep you posted as the two options play out.
July 24, 2025
Subject: Exciting News: Once A Soldier is Expanding!
Dear Friends and Supporters,
For eight years, Once A Soldier (OAS) has been my passion project. Being a first responder to veteran families after Veteran suicide has been amazingly rewarding and fulfilling. Their stories motivate me every day.
We are now accepting donations of gently used clothing, small household items, shoes, sneakers, and sporting goods at 143 Elm Creek Drive, St. Augustine. We also offer pick-up service. Your contributions will directly fuel our ability to open our doors and expand our reach.
Thank you for being a part of the OAS family. We look forward to sharing this exciting chapter with you.
Sincerely,
Dave Barbush
Founder, Once A Soldier
Retail fixtures collected, as well as donations, that were once housed in my garage are now at a U-Haul location.
Schedule a Pick-Up
We are happy to pick-up any donation. Limits include some large furniture. E-mail us a day and time that works for you.
ABOUT ONCE A SOLDIER
Once A Soldier is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the families left behind after a veteran dies by suicide. We grant emergency funeral funds and follow up with free lifelong mental health training. With veteran suicide accounting for nearly two-thirds of all military-related suicides, our mission is to bring immediate and long-term relief to the survivors—especially fatherless families. While many veteran-focused charities provide services to living veterans, we step in after the worst has happened, offering financial assistance, grief support, and community-driven resources for those struggling with the aftermath.
Based in North Florida, a region with a high veteran population, Once A Soldier operates at the intersection of veteran advocacy and family support. Our innovative approach includes funding through online merchandise sales, utilizing the Google Ad Grant, and launching a retail thrift store to provide sustainable revenue for our programs. The thrift store, in particular, serves as both a community resource and a funding vehicle, helping us expand our reach and impact.
We also prioritize raising awareness about veteran mental health and suicide prevention, sharing educational content, family stories, and resources to help reduce the stigma surrounding this crisis. By engaging with our audience through social media, fundraising events, and community partnerships, we work to ensure that no family has to navigate this loss alone.
Support our mission by donating, shopping, or spreading the word.