Friday, November 10, 2017

Five ways to support veterans


Every day is the day to support our veterans, not just November 11. Here are some ways to do that, please share your ways in the comments!

1. Donate your things - If you are purging your house, contact Vietnam Veterans of America to schedule a pickup. They are a great organization offering critical support service for returning veterans and dedicated to improving the general welfare and hospital care of all veterans, especially homeless and disabled vets.

2. Donate your money - Hope for the Warriors, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, The Gary Sinise Foundation. Donate Your frequent flier miles via the Fisher House Hero Miles Program.

3. Lend them your voice - call your government representatives at every level and ask what exactly they're doing for veterans. Hold their feet to the fire. Pressure them to take care of the people who put everything on the line for this country. Make sure they follow through on what they tell you - words don't mean shit from these people. Actions, specifically how they vote on veteran affairs, do. This is bi-partisan, so call them all.

4. Help them share their experiences - The Library of Congress is collecting stories of veterans of every war for the Veterans History Project. If you know a veteran who has a story they'd like to share, check it out.

5. Be a human - If you a vet who is homeless or know one at the risk of becoming homeless, call 877-424-3838 to reach The Department of Veteran Affairs' Stand Down program 24/7. If you are a vet struggling emotionally or mentally or are potentially suicidal, call the Veterans Crisis line at 800-273-8255 and press 1 or text to 838255 24/7. You can also chat online. Contact is confidential. If you know someone struggling, please keep the number in your phone and be ready to give it when you see it might be needed.

MFD is a representative for the Homes for Heroes program, so when he represents someone in a home buying or selling transaction who has served our country in the military (active/reserve/veterans or law enforcement, firefighters, healthcare professionals, EMS, teachers), he donates part of his commission so they are presented with a Hero Reward after closing, which amounts to money back in their pocket. If you know a veteran buying a home, tell them to hook up with a Homes for Heroes affiliate. We also give $100 off to any veteran who rents our shore house for the week and I make 95% of my physical donations to Vietnam Vets. These are things we figured out that we can do based on what we have to offer right now. Think in terms of your life and ask yourself what fit is right for you. It's all about looking at the world around you, finding out what is important to you, and doing what you can, with what you have, where you are.

What you can, what you have, and where you are will change many times in life. Adjust accordingly, but never think there's nothing you can do for someone else, particularly someone who has put their life on the line for this country. When the what you have doesn't include money to donate, you'll probably find that you still do have time and effort that you can spare. Some years you might have the money but no time. At the end of the day, we all have something to give, even if it's a smile and a thank you in passing on the street.

Let me know if you have any resources to add!

I can't sign off without saying Happy birthday to the United States Marine Corps. Thank you for being so badass and selfless.

And happy Friday to the rest of you.

12 comments:

  1. I had no idea that you could do what MFD does - that's so wonderful!

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  2. Awesome and perfect information. Thanks to all who serve and have served. Continued God and Goddess speed to you both for all of the good you do and to all veterans.
    Love. Your. Momma.

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  3. I love this post so much! Thanks for sharing all of these with people. I went back & edited my post today to include a link to this. Today in class I'm having each of my students write a letter/post card that I'll have sent out to people serving.

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  4. I have never heard of homes for heroes and now I want to look into that! So great that he does that and that you discount the shore house. We have lost sight of or veterans over the years and we need to thank them for their service!

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  5. Having vets in the fam I thought I new things but as always there's something to learn like the Homes for Heroes what a great things for all of those wonderful professions! Thanks for sharing this list, giving a discount on the shore house to vets and I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

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  6. Didn't know that Homes for Heroes program was a thing! I'm not at all surprised that MFD is involved with it.

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  7. Not even from the US and those post touched me. So important to give back to those who gave so much.

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  8. Happy Birthday USMC! And yessss to being a human and to donate, it's amazing how much a little goes a long way <3

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  9. The Homes for Heroes program sounds awesome!!! They are definitely on my list of places to call when I have donations. We have to take care of those who fight for us!

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  10. Great ideas to give back! There is a huge VA clinic just down the road from my house and I love volunteering my time there even if it's helping out at Bingo night for the Vets that live there.

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  11. Great post - and thanks for sharing! I have a brother in the Army so it means a lot when people support the troops. :)

    -Lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

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  12. I love this. Once we're home from our trip I'm definitely going to look into some of these.
    One of the guys that works for us is a vet and he's worried about potentially being deployed again. (A few of his buddies have been shipped out.) He asked if he'd still have a job when he got home. We told him obviously he'd still have a job! I hate that that's something vets looking at redeployment have to worry about :(

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