It is important to tell the former male and female soldiers that their sacrifices are very much appreciated by us. If you are interested in helping these war veterans, there are a variety of ways to do this, both on a local and national level.
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Method 1 of 2: Helping Veterans at the Local Level
Step 1. Thank a veteran
When you meet a veteran you know or meet for the first time, offer a heartfelt thank you. Doing this may not help physically, but you will be showing support that can help veterans emotionally and socially.
Step 2. Offer emotional support
For the veterans you know personally-whether as friends or family-their support as they face the emotional repercussions of completing their military service. Many veterans who have served in wartime suffer from a type of disorder called Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). You may not be able to give them all the support they need yourself, but you can still help them.
- Understand that every veteran has different needs, both physically and emotionally. Those with PTSD syndrome may find it very difficult to understand for others who have gone through similar experiences.
- Be patient. Veterans with PTSD usually have a hard time trusting others and dealing with pressure. Some of them even feel ashamed or guilty. Don't force them to trust you, but reassure them that you care and will be there to help them, in any way you can. Also reassure them that the symptoms they are experiencing are common among veterans.
- If you are a religious person, you might consider starting a Bible study or fellowship program through your church, to reach veterans who need spiritual support.
Step 3. Provide transportation
Injured and disabled veterans may find it difficult to move or not be allowed to drive themselves. If you know veterans like these who live in your area, consider offering them a ride when they need to get somewhere. If you don't know any of them but still want to volunteer in this way, there are organizations you can join, which will put you in touch with local veterans who need help.
One of the leading transportation service opportunities is the Disabled American Veterans organization. This organization provides transportation for veterans who are disabled and need a ride to the hospital. You can register your information and become a volunteer online:
Step 4. Help them in doing their job
In some cases, veterans who are injured, disabled, or elderly may no longer have the strength or manpower to carry out their daily tasks, even if you can help them with transportation. For these veterans, you can help with shopping, mowing the lawn, or doing other household chores.
Step 5. Connect them with the right people
You may have known or will eventually meet a veteran who needs help you cannot provide. In cases like this, you should find out about organizations and services dedicated specifically to helping veterans. Once you know a veteran's needs, you'll be able to direct him to someone who can help.
- If you know a homeless veteran or appear to be at risk of bad luck, call the VA (if you live in the US) on 877-4AID-VET, or 877-424-3838, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- For veterans with PTSD syndrome, consider referring them to online PTSD training administered by the VA:
Step 6. Share someone's story
Making a veteran feel valued can provide him with the emotional support he needs. Tell the veterans in your life how grateful you are for their presence. Do this by sharing their stories with others you know. As long as the veteran doesn't mind the attention he receives, you can also share his story with public sources who will receive and print the story.
Learn about the Veterans History Project, which is an initiative of the Library of Congress, providing a space for war veterans to share their stories:
Step 7. Become a volunteer at a medical facility
If you don't know a veteran personally and want to help veterans in your community, veterans medical centers usually need volunteer support.
- The easiest way to do this is to contact the Disabled Americans Veterans organization. Through them, you can find local Veterans Affairs hospitals and local Hospital Service Coordinators.
- There are various volunteer opportunities available at medical centers. Depending on your skills, you may be able to work directly with patients, participate in recreational programs, or assist hospital staff.
Step 8. Take time to help local organizations
In addition to medical facilities, there are many other organizations devoted to helping veterans in several ways. Many of these organizations are service oriented and will give you the opportunity to provide a lucrative service to local veterans in your community.
- MilServe. Org is an online forum that can connect you with opportunities to serve veterans at the local level. You must register as a volunteer and indicate your focus area of work. Visit this site to learn more:
- The US government also has a website that can direct you to volunteer opportunities in your area. Visit the site here:
- You can volunteer for U. S. VETS, which is an organization that helps veterans return and adjust to civic life, but their range of work is limited to a few major cities. However, you can still apply to volunteer online:
- If you volunteer for the Homes for Our Troops organization, you can build a home or adapt an existing home to better address the needs of injured veterans. The organization also accepts donations. Learn more about it online here:
Step 9. Hire a veteran
If you run a business, consider hiring a veteran. Veterans who have completed their military duties usually have difficulty finding work. You can post job openings that specifically invite interested veterans to submit applications.
- The easiest way to do this is to place a job advertisement in a newspaper or other similar directory. Some local TV and radio stations also have special directories for job openings looking to hire veterans.
- You can also contact organizations dedicated to helping veterans find work after they return to civilian life. You can learn more about one of these organizations, U. S. VETS, online:
Method 2 of 2: Helping Veterans Everywhere
Step 1. Donate money to help veterans and their families
Most service-first organizations will allow you to donate money if you can't devote time to the welfare of veterans, or don't live close enough to them to be directly involved. There are also some non-service-oriented veterans' organizations, which accept donations.
- A well-known organization you can send money to is the Wounded Warrior Project. Their focus lies on helping wounded soldiers and veterans. You can help them by donating money once or on a monthly basis. Find out more about them on this site:
- U. S. VETS is an organization that connects veterans with the programs and resources they need to adjust to civilian life after serving in the army. You can make a one-time donation or create a regular donation account. Learn more about them here:
Step 2. Consider making an unconventional donation
Money isn't the only thing you can donate if you want to help a veteran. Many veterans need objects that can help them in their daily lives. There are organizations you can contact, who will allow you to donate items, and these organizations will then find a veteran who really needs the item.
- Consider donating your flight distance to the Fisher House Foundations' Hero Miles Program:
- The Fisher House Foundation also allows you to donate items.
Step 3. Buy products that help veterans
Several products and companies donate a portion of their profits to the cause of veterans. When purchasing items, consider buying from a brand committed to helping veterans, as a way to provide indirect support.
- Puppies Behind Bars is a program that brings help dogs together with veterans with PTSD. The program is known to often sell holiday greeting cards in a fundraising effort, so keep an eye on their activities in the holiday months and consider buying their product.
- You can also support military dogs in a similar way, by buying pet food and treats from companies that donate money to help retired military dogs.
Step 4. Start a fundraising program
If you don't have enough money to donate or want to raise more money for a particular veterans organization, you can do this by starting a fundraising program in your community or online. Doing this can get more people interested in helping out and taking action for real.
When raising funds, try to involve local media to help spread the word about your program. Also consider asking the big companies in your area to match some of the funds raised, to increase the amount of money you can raise
Step 5. Send a letter or package expressing your concern
If you know a veteran who lives far away, write a caring letter or send a small package in the mail. However, if you don't know a veteran personally, you can still write letters and send gift packages to lonely veterans, through the help of various organizations.
