Each year in the United States, thousands of soldiers come home from combat zones or other parts of the world, and some can never be the same again. Additionally, there are many more who are already home who need help supporting themselves and their families. If you’ve been looking for a cause to donate to or support in your local community, then helping military families and veterans is the perfect way to get started.
How can you begin helping disabled veterans in your area? Here are three solutions you can use to begin that work now:
- Donate clothing and household items to veterans’ charity organizations. Americans donate more than 14.3 million tons of clothing per year, and much of that goes to help people worldwide. However, there are also charities that collect for local causes, including providing clothing as a way of helping families in need. Household items, such as furniture, small appliances, electronics, or even toys for children are also much sought after by charities. If you have items to spare around the house, see if you can give them to charity. You’ll feel better when you give clothing donations knowing that you’ve supported local causes and cleaned out the clutter in your home. Donating is also good for the environment by diverting millions of tons of clothing, textiles, and other types of waste away from landfills.
- Get involved in your community by helping military families and veterans. Don’t have anything to give? You might be able to lend yourself to the cause. Find out if there are any volunteer opportunities in your area. This could be anything from sorting through used clothing donations to working directly with disabled veterans and their families. That kind of outreach can have lasting impacts on not just the people you help but also you by giving you a rewarding experience in selflessness.
- Support programs that make helping disabled veterans their mission. Whether you’re choosing to give time or household goods, see if you can donate directly to wounded veterans charities or other projects that support military members and their families. Some programs collect donations and help put veterans to work, which lets them support their families themselves. These include donation pick up services, which come directly to your house to haul away your donated items.
How do you plan to start helping disabled veterans and their families? Tell us your plans or ask about where to donate household items, clothing, and time in the comments below.