Looking for ways to show your support for local veterans this month? We found several organizations and initiatives you can take part in to give back and show your gratitude.
Volunteering is a great way to make another person’s day better and teach younger family members the importance of saying “thank you” to our active military and veterans.
Give your time or treasure
- Compass Retreat Center: helps welcome veterans to civilian life after their service ends. The organization offers programs, retreats, support groups and a sense of community for service members to heal and reconnect with other veterans, their friends and families. You can help out by donating or participating in the program as a retreat sponsor or leader.
- Joseph House: offers help to homeless veterans suffering from addiction or other mental health issues by offering housing and treatment for dependency. They also offer reintegration support for veterans once they have been rehabilitated. The nonprofit relies on donations, which can be given online.
- Yellow Ribbon Support Foundation: provides scholarships in the name of fallen soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines from Greater Cincinnati as part of the Let Us Never Forget Scholarship Fund, sends care packages to service members still overseas and offers support for their families at home.
- USA Cares: assists more than 1,000 veterans locally. The nonprofit organization helps military families become self-sufficient through financial and job training. You can donate or volunteer.
- American Fallen Soldiers Project: relies completely on donations to provide families with portraits of a lost military member. Artist Phil Taylor hand paints each portrait and presents it to grieving family members to provide comfort and show that their loved one will not be forgotten.
Create care packages
- Adopt a US Soldier (AAUSS): allows you to “adopt” and show your support for a deployed service member through letters and/or packages. You can support a single soldier or an entire unit. Just sign up online and AAUSS will connect you with someone serving.
- Operation Gratitude: supports deployed troops, veterans, wounded warriors, first responders, care givers, disaster relief teams and sends “Battalion Buddies,” which are stuffed animals in military garb, to deploying soldiers’ children. You’ll find shipping instructions and wish lists online as well as opportunities to host a collection drive or sponsor Operation Gratitude.
- Hugs Project: sends packages overseas. Look online for ways to get involved and instructions for care packages, including wish lists for Christmas 2014. The organization also accepts donations.
If you’re unsure what to send troop overseas, check out these suggestions. Let us know if we missed one of your favorite organizations that supports local veterans, and be sure to share with your friends and family so they can say “thank you” this Veterans Day.
