This program includes assistance to veterans who are
not in hospitals or nursing homes and to Military families. It includes
financial aid, bringing meals to shut-ins, and providing support during illness
and bereavement. It can involve driving people to the doctor's office or church,
mowing their lawn, helping with shopping, or assisting. It also includes
support for the Military, such as funding or donating to the National Military
Services fund, adopting a Unit, or providing aid to Military families.
Veterans, service members, and their families often
face unexpected challenges, and the VFW Auxiliary is here to assist them in
their time of need. Since its founding in 1914, the VFW Auxiliary has worked
tirelessly to offer financial and moral support to those who need it most.
The Veterans & Family Support Program:
- Offers
support for veterans, service members, and their families. Our Veterans & Family Support Resource Card includes
a list of 20 organizations and agencies that offer support to veterans,
service members and their families.
- Promotes
Veteran and Military Suicide Awareness and Prevention
Each day, an estimated 20 veterans commit suicide. You can help lower this
number and make a difference in the life of a veteran or service member in
crisis by educating yourself and others about the warning signs of
suicide.
- The Veteran & Military Suicide Awareness Blue Teardrop
Sticker is the VFW Auxiliary’s symbol to give this issue the
attention it so desperately needs. Wear the teardrop to open a
conversation; when asked what the teardrop is, share that it’s to create
awareness for veteran and military suicide.
- The Veterans Crisis
Line connects veterans in crisis and their families and friends
with qualified, caring Department of Veterans Affairs responders through a
confidential toll-free hotline, online chat, or text. Veterans and their
loved ones can DIAL 988 then Press 1, chat online, or send a text message
to 838255 to receive confidential support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week,
365 days a year. Support for deaf and hard of hearing individuals is
available.
- Promotes
VFW’s National Veterans Service (NVS)
VFW's
National Veterans Service (VA Claims & Separation Benefits)
helps veterans, service members and their families obtain the benefits
they deserve – free of charge. NVS provides a nationwide network
of more than 2,000 VA-accredited VFW Service Officers across America
and abroad who help hundreds of thousands of veterans navigate the
Veterans Affairs system each year. In 2018, VFW’s service officers recovered
more than $8.3 billion (yes, billion!) in earned benefits and compensation
for veterans and their dependents, which includes $1.4 billion in new
claims. Service officers assist all veterans, whether they are VFW members
or not, in filing claims for:
- Disability Compensation
- Rehabilitation and education programs, including GI Bill benefits
- Pension and death benefits.
- Employment and Training Programs.
- Promotes
VFW’s Veterans & Military Support Programs
The VFW’s Veteran & Military Support Programs serve active-duty and
recently discharged members of the military.
- Unmet
Needs is there to help America’s service members who have run
into unexpected financial difficulties. The program provides
financial aid of up to $1,500 to assist with basic life needs in the form
of a grant – not a loan – so no repayment is required. To further ease the
burden, the creditor is paid directly. The financial hardship must be due
to one of the following:
- Currently
on active duty, whose financial hardship is a result to a current
deployment, military pay error, or from being discharges for medical
reasons.
- Discharges
on or after September 11, 2001, whose financial hardship is a direct
result of your military service-connected injuries and illness.
- Discharged
before September 11, 2001, are on a fixed income that must include VA
compensation for a service-connected injury/illness and facing an
unexpected financial hardship.
- The Military
Assistance Program helps provide financial assistance to VFW Post
and Auxiliaries to sponsor troop send-offs, homecomings, and
get-togethers. Posts and Auxiliaries participating in Adopt-A-Unit and
Family Readiness Groups can also receive help.
Veteran & Military Suicide Awareness
