Maybe seven years ago, I was at a lunch, sitting next to a guy from the Iraq & Afghanistan Vets of America (IAVA). Finally, it clicked. We really need to support regular people who gave up a lot to protect us, and that includes their families.
Now, I'm on the board of IAVA and Blue Star Families, and am involved with lots of vets and military families groups, including the Department of Veterans Affairs (I'm their official nerd-in-residence).
Here are 6 veterans groups that really have their boots on the ground giving back to veterans and their families (please note- this is just a small subset of the groups I support):
1. IAVA – Their mission is to connect, unite and empower post-9/11 veterans. They address critical issues facing new veterans and their families, including mental health injuries, a stretched VA system, inadequate health care for women vets, and GI Bill educational benefits. They also provide valuable resources and empower veterans to connect with one another, fostering a strong and lasting community. Through education, advocacy, and community building, IAVA strives to create a country which honors and supports veterans of all generations.
2. Swords to Plowshares – War causes wounds and suffering that last beyond the battlefield. Swords to Plowshares’ mission is to heal the wounds, to restore dignity, hope, and self-sufficiency to all veterans in need, and to prevent and end homelessness and poverty among veterans. They are committed to helping veterans break through the cultural, educational, psychological, and economic barriers they often face in their transition to the civilian world.
3. Bob Woodruff Foundation – The Bob Woodruff Foundation works to ensure injured veterans and their families are thriving long after they return home. That’s why they find and fund innovative programs in communities where veterans, their families and caregivers live and work. That’s how they tackle the problems that can prevent our veterans from fulfilling their dreams for the next chapter of their lives.
4. Blue Star Families – Blue Star Families was formed by a group of military spouses to create a platform where military family members can join with civilian communities and leaders to address the challenges of military life. Blue Star Families includes active duty, National Guard, Reserve, wounded, transitioning service members and their families from all ranks and services, as well as veterans and civilians who strongly support us.
They're committed to connecting military spouses to one another through the unique challenges of military service and asking the larger civilian population to help as well, strengthening military families regardless of rank, branch of service or physical location, and leading military family members towards opportunities to build strength in individuals, families and communities.
5. National Military Family Association – The National Military Family Association is the “go to” source for Administration Officials, Members of Congress, and key decision makers when they want to understand the issues facing military families. Through the support and programs they provide, and their respected voice on Capitol Hill, at the Pentagon and Veterans Administration, the National Military Family Association is always looking out for the families who stand behind the uniform and for those who serve.
6. Department of Veterans Affairs – The VA's mission is to fulfill President Lincoln's promise "To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan" by serving and honoring the men and women who are America's veterans.
The Dept of Veterans Affairs does a lot of different things for vets. Most of the workers are on the VA medical side, but there's also a group that processes benefits payments for vets. That's the Veterans Benefits Administration–VBA–and they work on over a million claims from vets each year. They work hard but get a lot of crap. So this extra thanks is for them…
Bottom line: if someone volunteers to risk taking a bullet to protect me, I should stand up and help out.
Who would you add to this list?