Ineke Collins thought she would never find the help she needed after retiring from the Air Force. Then, she found Endeavors.
Battling Mental Health After Military Service
When Ineke Collins reflects on her life in 2017, she remembers a time of darkness and despair.
After medically retiring from the U.S. Air Force, Ineke struggled with complex PTSD caused by an in-service sexual assault.
“I was on about 15 different pills for pain management and mental health,” Ineke recalls.
Additionally, the sudden change from active duty care to VA care left her battling panic attacks, running out of medication, and facing a heartbreaking reality: her wait for professional mental health care would be over six months long.
She needed help fast but didn’t know where to turn.
Fortunately, the VA suggested Ineke contact the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Endeavors in San Antonio.
The next day, she called our clinic, marking a turning point in her life.
Finding Hope at the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic
When Ineke walked into the Cohen Clinic, she was expecting the same experience she’d had before—a checklist of symptoms, another pill. But from the very first appointment, she realized something was different.
“When I went to Endeavors, I was definitely in the thick of PTSD where you think it’s never going to get better,” she says. “With Endeavors, it was one of the first times with my mental health care where I started to get better without medication.”
At the Cohen Clinic, the care was holistic. It wasn’t just about her diagnosis; it was about her.
Ineke and her clinician spent time talking about her family, her childhood, and her life as a whole before they even addressed her PTSD.
For the first time, Ineke felt seen—not as a statistic, but as a person worthy of healing.
The holistic approach at the Cohen Clinic focused on treating Ineke as a whole person, not just a diagnosis. This is one of the tenets of the Cohen Veterans Network, which first founded its national network of clinics to provide low-cost and no-cost mental health care to post-9/11 veterans and their families.
Endeavors partnered with CVN in 2015 to open three clinics in San Antonio, El Paso, and Killeen, Texas.
“We worked on my mental health as a whole, talking about my family and my childhood,” she remembers, “and we didn’t even get to my PTSD until later. It was about me as a person, and not them checking a box.”
From Client to Advocate
As Ineke started healing, she found something even more powerful—a sense of purpose. Around the same time she began therapy at the Cohen Clinic, she started working at Starbucks.
The stability of a routine, paired with the mental health support she was receiving, allowed her to flourish. She quickly rose through the ranks to become an assistant manager.
While she no longer needed regular therapy, the impact of the Cohen Clinic stayed with her. She knew she had to give back.
When Ineke learned about Starbucks’ Neighborhood Grants program, Endeavors was the first organization that came to mind.
Ineke nominated Endeavors for a Starbucks Neighborhood Grant and organized volunteer events, bringing her Starbucks team and the community together to support veterans, first responders, and housing clients in the San Antonio area. Whether handing out backpacks to kids in Uvalde or putting together care kits for veterans, Ineke’s heart was fully invested in helping others.
“The first time I was able to do a [volunteer] activation with Endeavors, it was surreal,” she says. “We put together care kits [for unhoused San Antonians] and wrote letters to the Endeavors team thanking them for their work. It’s so transformative.”
Since Ineke first nominated Endeavors for a Starbucks Neighborhood Grant, Starbucks employees have donated 321 hours and over $10,700 to support the people we serve.
For Ineke, this journey—from a place of panic and uncertainty to one of purpose and hope—feels nothing short of miraculous.
“I want to give as much as I can. It’s odd how the world works and intertwines. Sometimes it’s so coincidental and I’m so glad I get to sleep at night knowing this whole collaboration is happening. Everything Endeavors does is literally life-changing for someone.”
Today, Ineke Collins is a living testament to the power of community, resilience, and the belief that no one should have to navigate their struggles alone. Through her work at Starbucks and her unwavering support for Endeavors, she is giving back and ensuring that others can find the same hope and healing that she did.
Want to volunteer with Endeavors?
Our programs assist numerous vulnerable populations—whether you’re passionate about helping mothers experiencing homelessness, Veterans recovering from PTSD, or hurricane survivors, we have opportunities for you to help.
About Endeavors
Endeavors is a longstanding national non-profit that provides an array of programs and services in support of children, families, Veterans, and those struggling with mental illness and other disabilities. Endeavors serves vulnerable people in crisis through innovative personalized services. For more information, please visit endeavors.org.
About Starbucks
Established in 1971 and headquartered in Seattle Washington, Starbucks is the largest coffeehouse chain in the world. With a diverse menu and coveted seasonal offerings, Starbucks offers a signature coffeehouse experience while supporting various internal and external communities through accessibility to education, sustainable harvesting practices, disaster recovery support, global impact grants and more. For more information visit: https://www.starbucks.com/