Veterans & Family Support: Giving Back to Those Who Gave for Us

Veterans & Family Support is the heart of this organization. Thank you to National President Sandi for this appointment and all the Auxiliary and Department Chairmen for all you’ve done to support veterans, their families and their caregivers this year. Thank you to the members and Auxiliaries who stepped up to support our 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. 

Combating Food Insecurity
The National President’s Special Project: Stars, Stripes and Support is still needed now with this pandemic. 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. Some of these families must get government assistance. A February 2021 CBS News feature highlights the struggle many military families face. Supporting this project is one way of providing aid to our military families. We still have one more month to promote this project before the April 30 deadline for citations. However, money can be sent until the end of June.  Donations are cumulative and citations will be awarded for the highest donation level reached.

Donation Citation Award Levels:

• Platinum: $1,000 or more
• Diamond: $500 – $999
• Gold: $250 – $499
• Silver: $100 – $249
• Bronze: $25 – $99

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

This initiative is 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 help combat food insecurity this year.

Support for Veteran and Military Caregivers

There are many people who give generously of their time to take on the roles of caregivers for our veterans. This could be a family member, friend or acquaintance who provides the support needed for our veterans.

There is support for these caregivers from the VA. If there is a caregiver in your community, let us provide them with a list of these services and the information to help them. These caregivers deserve some help and recognition. I would like for our Auxiliaries to honor the more than five million veteran and military caregivers during Military Caregiver Month in May. There are many ways for your Auxiliary to bring attention to veteran and military caregivers and their sacrifices. You are encouraged to host an event or participate in an activity that supports these caregivers.

• Listen to them. Be there for an in-person or phone conversation, email or text.
• Give a gift card for personal care. Massages, manicures, pedicures and/or haircuts are great treats!
• Mail a card or brighten their day with flowers.
• Bring them lunch or dinner, or provide a gift card to a local restaurant.
• Host a luncheon or dinner in their honor at your Post Home.
• Think about other creative ways to show you’re thinking of them and appreciate all they do to improve the lives of our veterans.

Thank you for giving back to those who gave for us, both of the veteran and the family of the veteran.