Veterans & Family Support: Give Back to Those Who Gave For Us

Veterans & Family Support is the heart of this organization. We can help support veterans by working together as one VFW family, embracing our differences and listening to one another’s ideas. This is our year of Honoring Our Mission to Serve Veterans. 

September is National Suicide Prevention Month; the VFW is hosting its Fifth Annual Day to Change Direction on September 19, 2020. This is an opportunity for Auxiliaries to work with the Post and support this Program. Our veterans may struggle with Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), military sexual assault and/or other wounds we cannot see, yet they still maintain their daily life. Some days though, the struggle is too much.

A staggering 20 veterans commit suicide each day. The VFW and VFW Auxiliary are committed to helping change the conversation and stigma surrounding mental health in the United States. VFW National Headquarters has free pamphlets and “5 signs” cards. Call the VFW Programs Department and request them. Change the stigma, improve research, support your community and explore treatment options at the resources below:

• The Campaign to Change Direction: changedirection.org
• Give an Hour: giveanhour.org
• Patients Like Me: patientslikeme.com/join/vfw
• One Mind: onemind.org
• Help Heal Veterans: healvets.org
• The Elizabeth Dole Foundation: elizabethdolefoundation.org

National President’s Special Project: Stars, Stripes and Support

Food insecurity is a challenge for military families; many struggle to feed their families. According to a recent report, nearly 15 percent of military and veteran families worry about how they are going to feed their families or afford food. By supporting this project, you can provide aid to these military families.

Donate by mail by sending funds to the VFW Foundation earmarked for Unmet Needs – Hunger. Mail check to:

VFW National Headquarters
Attn: VFW Foundation
406 W. 34th Street, 9th Floor
Kansas City, MO 64111

A citation will be mailed to every Auxiliary, District and Department that donates a minimum of $25 to the VFW Foundation earmarked for Unmet Needs – Hunger by April 30, 2021. Amounts are cumulative – make one donation or many small donations. The citation will be awarded for the highest donation level reached. Citations will be mailed directly to the Auxiliary, District or Department after May 1, 2021.

• Platinum Certificate: $1,000.00 or more
• Diamond Certificate: $500.00 to $999.99
• Gold Certificate: $250.00 to $499.99
• Silver Certificate: $100.00 to $249.99
• Bronze Certificate: $25.00 to $99.99

This Program is as a way to give back to those who gave for us, both the veteran and the family of the veteran. As Auxiliary members, let us step up and provide assistance to help combat mental health issues and food insecurity this year.