We Americans owe a debt of gratitude to everyone who kept our nation safe by serving in the military. Most brave women and men return from the service with mental and physical injuries, and as Americans, we have the duty of ensuring that they get the required support. Donating to a charity for veterans is the best way of giving back to everyone who served honorably, but most people find it difficult to identify recipients for donations. Supportive Americans, like you and I, should consider giving to non-profit organizations, such as Wounded Warriors Family Support, which provides various programs, including welding training.
Choosing the Right Charity.
Your contributions will make a great difference in veteran’s lives. If that is your goal, then you need to find a good charity by learning the values of different organizations. To learn the values of a charity, you need to research the mission of veteran charity organizations to determine how they often use contributions. Not every veteran charity shares its goals and allocates funds similarly. For example, some might concentrate on providing employment and education opportunities, whereas others can provide mental and physical health support. So, it is important to choose which causes are more important to you and then find a charity that better aligns with the organization’s values. Another point is to review the documents of an organization to see their transparency in the way they use funds. A good way to do that is to review the financial documents of a charity, including Form 990s and annual reports. These documents give insights into the amount of money an organization raises, how they often compensate staff, and who gets those funds. Transparent charities have no issues with sharing these details with any potential donors.
Supporting Veterans.
As mentioned, veterans in the country have made many sacrifices, and it is crucial for us to recognize their contributions and show appreciation. There are several ways you can show support to veterans and their families. Some of these ways include:
- Offering education assistance – Most veterans are struggling to graduate or stay enrolled on time for college, often because of financial needs and lack of support from their mentors and administrators. In addition, veterans are around a decade older than typical college students and can have a family to support. Through charities, you can offer services, such as no-interest loans to help veterans when their G.I bill funds are delayed.
- Volunteering – If get time, volunteer at organizations which support veterans. Many volunteering options are available that may help to make a significant difference in veterans’ lives. These may include: offering help with job placement, spending more time with veterans, mentoring veterans, and organizing fundraising events for them.
Why Support Charities?
It is important to know that supporting the cause you care about doesn’t just benefit the organization, but that it supports the veterans as well. It can also reward you. Here are more reasons for supporting charities:
1. Giving Strength and Building Communities.
Since COVID-19, most communities are still facing an uphill battle and aren’t able to serve their own constituencies. So, most of them require support or help to solve different problems as well as lift their families.
2. Access to Better Resources.
For a veteran to get from their store or home to the VA, they require transportation. Therefore, apart from donating non-perishables and clothing, you may donate a car or vehicle to help these veterans get where they need to go. By providing better access to such resources, you will help various veterans feel less scared or intimated when asking for support, especially when they require medical care.
The bottom line is that the help that you give to veterans through charities is life changing. Apart from giving access to better resources, supporting charities also builds upon and gives strength to support communities.