Which are the best charities for supporting war veterans?
According to government figures from recent years, it’s believed that there are around 20 million war veterans in the US. For some of these veterans, returning to civilian life goes well and a seamless reintegration occurs. But for other veterans, it’s sadly not nearly as simple – and many veterans find themselves in situations where they are experiencing everything from post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety to homelessness and poverty.
No matter what your views on war and defense might be, everyone can agree that it’s clearly unacceptable for veterans to experience these kinds of difficult and even life-threatening problems. As a result, all sorts of diverse charitable causes have sprung up to help those veterans who are in need. This article will outline three of the best charitable endeavors out there working to make life a little better for veterans across the US.
Blue Star Families
Serving in the military is, of course, a significant decision for the person who decides to make the move and do it. But there’s also a consequence for the families of serving military members, and also for the families of veterans who have returned home. Children may take some adjusting to a veteran who is experiencing mixed feelings about their return, for example, while other adults in the household may have to work longer hours for a while as the veteran readjusts to civilian life.
Blue Star Families is here to help with these problems. It provides a range of practical services to families of serving and retired personnel, including career development work, and it also conducts research on families with war veterans in them. Through the Blue Star Neighbor scheme, it helps veterans and their families to connect with friendly people in their local communities and helps them to settle back in and continue with their lives.
As well as providing practical support to veterans and their loved ones, Blue Star Families plays another important, wider role. By encouraging community connection with those who are back from active service, Blue Star Families helps ensure that Americans remained united behind their service personnel and that their needs are front and center in the minds of their fellow citizens.
Phillips Charitable Organizations
This organization is the brainchild of Charles Phillips, who runs a software company called Infor. The Phillips Charitable Organizations help veterans to get back on their feet once they’re back from active service. The assistance provided by this organization is largely financial in nature, and it aims to help ensure that veterans have the resources they need to use their skills learned in the armed forces to make a positive difference back home.
For veterans who are looking to re-enter civilian life and make a difference, this sort of support can be vital. Perhaps a veteran would like to use the single-mindedness they learned in the armed forces to start a business. Or maybe they need to cover some essential costs while finding work. Without some assistance from an organization such as this one, however, it might not be possible for this to happen.
National Veterans Foundation
The National Veterans Foundation is a well-known name among those who have returned from active military service. The reason is clear: this charity serves a number of important functions in the life of retired personnel, including the staffing of the only toll-free phone number for those veterans who need a helping hand.
Other practical services offered by this organization include help finding employment once out of the military, plus the meeting of even more basic needs such as the provision of clothes and food. This organization has military experience in its blood: its founder, Floyd Meshad, was himself a Vietnam veteran who served as a Medical Service Officer. He worked as a therapist during this time, so he saw clearly what sort of psychological problems could befall soldiers – and developed ideas about how they could be looked after once they were back home.
With so many of our war veterans experiencing unacceptable problems, a number of philanthropists and volunteers across America have decided that now is the time to act. The result is a series of charitable enterprises that aim to reward veterans for their hard work and sacrifice. From the Phillips Charitable Organizations to Blue Star Families, these organizations work tirelessly to make a difference in the lives of those veterans in need.
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