SAN ANGELO, Texas — Juan and Jennifer Rubio are both Navy veterans who found themselves struggling to adjust to a normal life at home once their time in the U.S. Navy was complete.
"I’ve done several tours overseas, and it was a very big struggle when I got out of the service. It took several years of therapy and group sessions to actually have a good quality of life," Juan said.
He sought comfort in fishing. The stillness of the water and the sounds of nature offered a stark contrast to the hectic routines and loud sounds in the Navy.
One day, Jennifer asked Juan if he thought he'd like to fish with a rod he made himself.
"I thought it was a great idea- being able to catch a fish with a pole I had made. She signed us both up to be certified custom rod builders," Juan recalled.
Juan and Jennifer don't just make rods, either. They also offer combat veterans all expense paid fishing trips in the area.
"We both wanted to do something for our community and to give back to our servicemen and women who defend our freedom and our country," Juan said.
As a small and young organization, the Rubios admit it's hard to keep up sometimes. That's why they're hoping events such as San Angelo Gives will help spread awareness of their products and the reason they do it.
“San Angelo Gives, we believe, gives the small community nonprofit organizations - there are so many here in our community that we don't even know about - and it allows those nonprofit organizations to get a chance to raise donations, get our mission statements out, and it’s just a wonderful thing that San Angelo has done for this day of giving," Juan said.
San Angelo Gives ends at 11:59 p.m. May 5, however, donations can continue to be made directly to local and area organizations.