The Guardian Collective

10/15/2026

Vet talk tonight with Veterans independence project.

10/11/2026

Been trying to find the words to say. Just recently a Vietnam veteran whom I had the pleasure of meeting. sharing a meal with and listening to his stories from vet talk passed away a few days ago. He was a very insightful person. Although I didn't get many chances to sit down with him aside from vet talk he was still a good man. My prayers and thoughts go out to his family and close friends who knew him well. May he rest in peace and may God be with him all the days of his life. RIP Donald.

10/04/2026

Happy to be part of the O.W.L Movement. With our combined resources and collaboration we will make The Guardian Collective as well as other nonprofits a big success. Thank you for allowing me to partner with you.

10/03/2026

Who protects the people who protect us? 🦉

Matt Shovlin is a military veteran and the founder of The Guardian Collective, a new nonprofit for veterans and first responders facing financial struggles. He wants to make sure the people who protect the rest of us have someone looking out for them too!

The idea came to him while he was in a PTSD treatment program. He looked for a local nonprofit offering that kind of support and could not find one that met the need, so he started his own!

We first met Matt at the Veterans Independence Project's van unveiling last month and got to sit down with him this week. The Guardian Collective is just getting started, and we would love to help get the word out as it grows!

Want to connect with Matt? The easiest way to reach him is the phone number on The Guardian Collective's page 🤝

09/11/2026

25 years ago today, I headed to Asbury Park for culinary school not knowing what I was about to witness. It felt like a normal morning, went inside the building, grabbed my coffee like usual and sat down to enjoy. Suddenly I hear someone yelling and coming over to tell me that a plane went into one of the Towers. I told him, no I didn't. I thought it was a joke. I ran upstairs to our common area to witness another plane going into the second tower. It looked as if it was a movie being played on the TV. I asked immediately if it was fake and I was told it was live. I thought to myself wtf did I just witness. Two towers that stood tall when I used to look up to whenever my father would take me to work with him when I was off school. Sitting on the bus like a regular commuter and looking up at the two tall buildings thinking one day I would like to go there. Then I would fall asleep. That day in school seeing it happen as if it was a dream. I immediately got on the phone trying to get a hold of my recruiter only to find out that he had been called up to activate duty. I wanted to go in so bad to go and fight. My instructor asked if anyone wanted to go home and if anyone's family worked in one of those towers. Then they asked for volunteers to make sandwiches for the first responders. I immediately raised my hand and went over to help construct those sandwiches. Two years later changed the course of my life. I enlisted in the United States Army. Although I didn't have any family members in those towers I found out that some people that I worked at the movie theater with had family members that were visiting that day. I couldn't imagine what they were going through or what pain they were going through not knowing if their family members were still alive or dead. I promised myself that I would never forget that day. I never have. It's what I went to fight for so that it wouldn't happen again in this country. I did it so everyone would be safe. That day changed all our lives forever. RIP to all those who lost their lives that day.

07/30/2026

A few short weeks I will be hosting my first event for the Guardian collective. This money will be used to help the veteran community and the first responders community. Come out and have a fun time. There will be live music, food trucks and shooting. come out and support a good cause.

07/22/2026

On behalf of The Guardian collective I would like to issue my sincerest condolences to the family of these brave fallen soldiers. I know it's not easy dealing with the loss of a loved one. They risked their lives in service to our country. Their sacrifice is not unnoticed. God bless your souls, your family and our country. RIP we have the watch from here.
https://www.facebook.com/share/1Numy8Eevt/

God rest their soul 🙏

07/05/2026

Today we celebrate our countries 250th birthday. 250 years ago we gained our independence from England. We celebrate our nation's freedom from British influence and unfairness. We broke free of their tyranny to become a Free nation. I'm proud to call myself a patriot and a proud member of the armed forces who fought for the ideals this country was founded on. Like others before me who have been part of history I'm proud to have part of the 250 years that has made this nation safe. Although we face a lot of segregation one thing is clear that United States is still the greatest country in the world. Happy 4th of July and Happy 250th birthday America!

07/03/2026

Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

06/21/2026

Happy father's day to All the fathers out there! May your day be filled with lots of love and happiness today. Hold your kids close and let them know how special they are to you.