Support Us

12 Ways to Give Back to Our Troops and Vets

There are so many different organizations and charities that support our troops overseas and returning veterans that it can be a bit overwhelming to choose between them.

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FOR THOSE CURRENTLY SERVING ABROAD

1. Send a message of thanks

The fastest and easiest way to show your support for military personnel currently serving overseas is to offer a simple message of thanks. 

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2. The USO

The USO is the mack-daddy organization of military support and veterans’ services. USO.org is rich with donation information, suggestions for fundraisers, and details tons of great ongoing programs that provide for those in military service and military veterans who have returned home.

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3. Soldiers’ Angels (Text “Soldiers” to 20222 to donate $5)

Soldiers’ Angels is a terrific nonprofit organization, through which ordinary American citizens can “adopt” a military serviceman or servicewoman who is serving overseas and send them gifts, care packages, calling cards and specialized equipment like sand scarves.

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4. Green Beans Coffee and the “Cup O Joe For A Joe” Program

Do you love coffee? Green Beans Coffee is a really cool coffee company that began by starting coffee shops on American military bases overseas. Today, they have stores and shops across the world and primarily serve troops fresh, high-quality coffees to give them a taste of home and an extra jolt of energy during their long days and nights. Their “Cup O’ Joe for a Joe” program lets patriots back home buy cups of coffee for troops serving abroad, which they redeem with free vouchers on their military bases overseas!

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5. Operation American Soldier

Operation American Soldier‘s mission is to make sure that “No soldier walks away from mail call empty-handed.” Not every troop overseas receives the privilege of care-packages and letters from home. Thanks to Operation American Soldier, you can send a care package and letter of thanks to a troop who would love to receive one.

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FOR VETERANS RETURNING HOME

8. Simply reach out. Say thank you.

When you come across a man or woman in uniform in your day-to-day life, don’t be so shy or afraid to take a moment to introduce yourself and say hello or thank you for being in the military — especially on Veteran’s Day. You don’t need to start a slow-clap round of applause, or offer a salute, or read a long-winded poem. Just say hi. Just say you appreciate their service. Just say thanks.

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7. The Fisher House

The Fisher House is a “home away from home” for the families of military veterans who are undergoing treatment at medical centers on military bases and in Virginia. There are 45 Fisher Houses located on 18 military installations and 15 VA medical centers.

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8. Operation Homefront

Operation Homefront is a Texas-based nonprofit organization that offers a litany of special and very important food-assistance services for military families enduring difficult financial times. Sadly, many military families have to suffer from not only the long months during which a family member is abroad but also the difficult times that can endure when they return home and struggle to return to “normal” civilian life. Operation Homefront is a great organization that provides much-needed help to struggling military families.

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9. Homes For Our Troops

Homes For Our Troops builds specialty houses for wounded and disabled military veterans — completely free of charge. 

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10. Wounded Warrior Project

The Wounded Warrior Project is an impressive organization with a big reach, striving to help wounded and disabled military veterans heal both mentally and physically while readjusting to life back home. 

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11. Hire a Veteran

Many veterans of the military have a hard time adjusting to civilian life. One of the many challenges is finding employment again, especially in this dreadful economy. To help military veterans readjust and get back into the civilian workforce, the United States Department of Labor’s VETS Program and other nonprofit organizations and job-seeking websites help vouch for and place qualified veterans in businesses.

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FOR HONORING THE FALLEN

12. Fallen Heroes Project

The Fallen Heroes Project provides beautiful hand-drawn portraits of a Fallen Hero to each military family, completely free of charge. Internationally-recognized artist Michael G. Reaga has undertaken the program, providing thousands of hand-crafted portraits of military men and women who have paid the ultimate price to their families — who have also paid a monumental price.