Free Veteran Peer Groups - Minneapolis | Every Third Saturday
Every Third Saturday (ETS) is a Minneapolis nonprofit built on the belief that there is no better medicine than being in community with other veterans and their families. Its Veterans Resource & Empowerment Center (VREC) runs free weekly classes and groups where veterans can show up, do something alongside other people who served, and find their way back to purpose after military service. The organization’s stated focus is post-traumatic growth rather than simply managing symptoms.
What to Expect
ETS runs weekly classes and groups at the VREC where veterans engage in activities and social opportunities together. Current offerings include a Recovery Class created by and for veterans in recovery, an Art Class with no artistic experience required, a Tech Class for help with setup and sign-ups, and a yoga class open to all levels. The fitness center is free to veterans and open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with cardio equipment, a rowing machine, a smith machine, free weights, and yoga mats. Warrior’s Return is a five-week course supporting veterans pursuing post-traumatic growth. Pop-Smoke provides a digital pathway for veterans and families to request the support they are looking for. A supply store lets veterans and immediate family members pick up needed goods once a month with proof of veteran status, and monthly resource days bring in employers and veteran services. A current calendar is posted on the ETS website.
Who This Group Is For
Minnesota veterans and their families. ETS is explicitly aimed at the transition problem — the loss of team, structure, and purpose that often follows separation — rather than at any single diagnosis. The recovery class serves veterans working on substance use; the broader classes serve anyone who wants a reason to be in the building with other people who served.
Why Peer Support Works
Military service is organized around teams, and civilian life usually is not. Many veterans describe the hardest part of separation as the absence of people who understand without explanation. Activity-based groups solve a specific problem here: they lower the barrier for people who would never sign up for something labeled a support group, and connection happens sideways while everyone is busy doing something else. ETS also runs on reciprocity — veterans serving other veterans — which restores a sense of being useful that is often what went missing.
How to Join
Services are free to veterans. ETS is at 5402 43rd Avenue S, Minneapolis, MN 55417, open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call (952) 356-5116 or visit the ETS Classes & Groups page for the current schedule. Veterans can also become a member through the website to stay connected. Every Third Saturday Inc. is a registered 501(c)(3) organization, EIN 81-2658331.