At 9 a.m. sharp, the coffee is hot, the breakfast is ready, and the chairs at SouthLight’s Fayetteville office begin to fill. Veterans in worn ball caps, firefighters still smelling faintly of smoke, and police officers between shifts gather around the tables. For the next two hours, uniforms and job titles fade away, replaced by conversation, laughter, and a sense of shared understanding.
It’s called Buddy Check, and at SouthLight Fayetteville, the program is offered twice each month: once for veterans and their families, and once for first responders, including law enforcement, fire personnel, EMS, and telecommunications. Both groups are led by Wade Adair, a U.S. Army combat veteran and SouthLight’s veteran peer support specialist.
Adair brings his own story to the role. A decorated Operation Desert Storm veteran, he understands the unique challenges faced by those who serve.
“This is a space where people can breathe,” he said. “No paperwork, no judgment—just connection, resources, and someone ready to help.”
Modeled after the national American Legion Veteran Buddy Check concept, SouthLight’s gatherings are designed to strengthen peer networks while providing direct access to community resources. Attendees are welcomed with coffee and breakfast, then invited to share whatever is on their minds, whether it’s trouble securing housing, navigating benefits, finding counseling, or simply feeling isolated.
The meetings are intentionally informal, but they’re also highly productive. Adair works the room like a mission commander, listening closely, taking notes, and quietly pulling out his phone to connect attendees with the right people before the session ends.
“If someone needs a ride to a doctor’s appointment, we work on that now. If someone’s paperwork is stalled, we find the right contact. We don’t wait,” he said.
Adair has been outspoken about one of the biggest hurdles veterans and first responders face: delays in care and communication. In a recent phone interview, he didn’t mince words.
“I would change the amount of time it takes to deliver services and the communication,” he said. “If there is a delay or any type of issue or a reply that is needed, it has to be delivered with urgency and importance. If we can’t, we have to communicate that and provide an immediate alternative solution. Especially with those that are unhoused, those needing immediate treatment or help. That time frame in which the Veteran or anyone needing help is idle and hears nothing, is a time frame that can create a crisis. And that is unacceptable. And that goes for all of us providing services.”
For Adair, those words are more than a critique; they’re a call to action. He uses the Buddy Check platform to close those gaps in real time, ensuring no one leaves without a plan or a next step.
The dual focus on veterans and first responders is intentional. “We’ve all seen and done things the average person hasn’t,” Adair said. “That shared experience is what makes these gatherings powerful. Whether it’s a soldier, a police officer, or an EMT, there’s an understanding in the room that doesn’t need explaining.”
SouthLight’s First Responders Buddy Check meets monthly at the Fayetteville office, located at 439 Ramsey Street. Dates for the remainder of 2025 include: Monday, Aug. 25; Thursday, Sept. 25; Friday, Oct. 24; Tuesday, Nov. 25; and Friday, Dec. 19.
The Veterans Buddy Check follows a similar schedule, with upcoming dates including: Thursday, Sept. 11; Friday, Oct. 10; Tuesday, Nov. 11; and Thursday, Dec. 11. Each session runs from 9 to 11 a.m., with coffee and breakfast provided.
Family members are welcome at both programs, and no registration is required.
Adair encourages anyone eligible to attend, whether they’re seeking help or simply looking to connect.
“Sometimes just showing up is the first step toward getting back on your feet,” he said.
For more information about either program, attendees can contact Wade Adair at 984-389-6682 or adairw@southlight.org, or call SouthLight Fayetteville at 910-830-0990.