Looking for a way to honor our veterans this coming Veteran's Day? These four charities are highly-rated and a great way to give back to those who gave so much to our country. I personally feel one day a year is not nearly the amount of recognition they deserve, however, these charities can help provide support to veterans all year round, and a small donation today can make a lasting & profound impact on someone who needs it!
This non-profit charity is truly a win-win, as it is dedicated to saving the lives of not only veterans, but shelter dogs as well. K9s for Warriors rescues shelter dogs (most of whom are rescued from high-kill shelters), trains them to become service dogs, and then pairs them with veterans that are suffering from service-related trauma (PTSD, brain and/or physical injuries, sexual trauma, etc). This charity is committed to ending veteran suicide, and helps give both veterans and shelter dogs a second chance at life. How awesome is that?
Wounded Warriors Project is a non-profit charity dedicated to offering services and programs of support to those who served in our military on or after September 11, 2001, and were injured during their service (both physically & mentally). Rather than spread themselves thin by trying to offer support to all veterans, they focus specifically on the newer generation of veterans that need different kinds of help, like mental health care, long-term rehabilitation, and career counseling, at no cost to the veteran.
Disabled American Veterans is a non-profit that offers free lifetime support to veterans of all generations, their families, and survivors. They offer a broad range of support, like employment assistance & hosting job fairs, to filling out claims for benefits, representing veterans, widows and orphans before Congress, and even offering veterans rides to & from medical appointments. With over a million volunteers and 1,200 chapters across the states, DAV is dedicated to serving our veterans so they can be empowered to live "high quality lives with respect and dignity."
Being both an actor and a military dependent (I was born & raised on military bases overseas), I can say first-hand how meaningful it was to have various arts programs tour our bases and offer both education and entertainment for military personnel and their families. This is why I love this unique charity so much! Founded by actors Adam Driver (Star Wars, Girls, House of Gucci) and Joanne Tucker (The Report, American Rust), AITAF is a non-profit that travels to bases around the world and provides veterans, active-duty military members, and their families high quality arts programming for free. For more information, here are some of their past events to check out, as well as upcoming events.
I hope this Veterans Day, you will honor those who have served us, by donating to a charity that's dedicated to serving them.
Happy Veterans Day!
P.S. Here are some fun freebies listed on Military.com for veterans and most active-duty service members this Veterans Day. Be sure to pass this along to your military friends and family! All offers are on November 11, 2023 unless otherwise stated in bold, and all offers require proof of service or a valid military I.D.
Helpful Resources for Veterans
Veterans Guide is an advocacy site that offers comprehensive & helpful resources for veterans and their families to help ease the burden of service-related issues. As mentioned on their site, many veterans who are eligible for their VA disability benefits have never even applied, and those who are receiving benefits may be eligible for more. For those curious about their VA disability rating, pension rates, housing and business loans, and job training, Veterans Guide can help provide answers to these questions and more.
Did you know that military veterans make up almost a third of the mesothelioma cases in the United States? Although once deemed safe and heavily used due to its fire-resistant properties, the use of asbestos in military products like ships & aircrafts have led to many military members developing cancer related to asbestos exposure. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma after your service in the military, check out this guide - you may be able to get help receiving financial compensation.
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