Many of our American Heroes who have served our country continue to pay a price for our freedom every day. Often, when they come home, they feel everything has changed because they have been changed. Our Veterans are sometimes battling invisible wounds of war such as PTSD, physical disabilities that are life-altering beyond measure, as well as financial difficulties. You can make a difference in the life of an American Hero. Here are the best ways to give back.
1. Find a cause to donate to Veterans
Doing your due diligence to find a nonprofit or organization that will do the most with your money can be time consuming. Here are a few of the top nonprofits that support Veterans around the country:
- Northwest Battle Buddies connects Veterans with professionally trained PTSD service dogs at no cost to the Veterans, helping them live the life they deserve with freedom and independence. Donate to support our American Heroes.
- Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces serves US military personnel and their families delivering critical emergency services around the world, including at military installations.
- Homes for Our Troops has a mission of building and donating specially adapted homes custom made for post-9/11 Veterans.
- Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Charitable Service Trust is dedicated to empowering Veterans to lead high-quality lives with respect and dignity. They achieve their mission through support from sheltering homeless Veterans to enhancing research for Veterans with amputations and spinal cord injuries.
The most common way to donate to Veterans is to give financially to a nonprofit. Once you’ve found the cause that means the most to you, head to their website to show your financial support.
2. Set up a recurring donation with a Veteran non-profit
Giving a one-time donation to Veterans can have a big impact. But a recurring donation has some added benefits. Not only is it convenient and simple for you as a donor, it also allows the organizations you support to strategically plan throughout the year. Knowing they can rely on your monthly support means the organizations have an idea of how much money they can count on year-round to support their programs.
Pledging a recurring contribution with Operation Never Quit to Northwest Battle Buddies is an easy way to give to Veterans monthly. Every day, 22 Veterans in our country lose their lives to suicide. Support from a PTSD service dog can help lower that number. You can also Pledge-a-Pup to support one of those PTSD service dogs from puppyhood through training.
3. Support corporate sponsorships
The power of community can be a strong force for change, and we can always do more together. Corporate giving is responsible for billions of dollars donated to charities each year. From 2021 to 2022, corporate giving in the United States increased 3.4% to $21.08 billion. Even small businesses can make a big impact supporting Veterans.
Through impactful collaborations with extraordinary partners, Northwest Battle Buddies has achieved significant milestones, supporting our American Heroes by providing access to PTSD service dogs. Apply to become a corporate sponsor, and help your company make an impact when you donate to Veterans.
4. Give your time
Not all donations have to be financial to make a meaningful impact. Giving your time can make a difference in the lives of our American Heroes. Donate your time to support Veterans, and live the difference.
Northwest Battle Buddies relies on the dedication of our volunteers who foster puppies, providing training, socialization, and food, as well as communicating with the foster coordinator. A foster assignment can last for up to 12 months. If you live in Washington, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, or Oregon, fill out an application to see if you’d be a good fit as a foster.
Your dollars and hours make a difference. Donate to Veterans around the country, and support our American Heroes.