A common misconception today is that all charities who advertise themselves as helping United States veterans give all of their funds directly to those veterans and their families. Unfortunately, this is not true. Some organizations, like the National Veterans Service Fund, pay more to solicitors than they do to the actual intended recipients of their charities, with many filing improper or inaccurate IRS reports. Luckily, there are those who truly aid in veterans readjusting to civilian life, dealing with post-traumatic stress, and recovering from injuries sustained on the battlefield. Below are just a few of many whose efforts greatly benefit those who risked their lives in the name of the United States.
AMVETS National Service Foundation
Spending almost 73% of all of their expenses on programs and services, AMVETS opened its doors in 1948 with the goal to give veterans the benefits they deserve, and help them re-acclimate to the life of a standard civilian. Some of their services include running thrift stores to serve veterans and raise funds for them, offer scholarships for those seeking to continue their education, and contribute to work in hospitals and health care facilities specializing in work with veterans.
Losing a family member in the armed services is no easy task. That is where the Fisher House Foundation comes in. Helping families of deceased or injured veterans for over 25 years, this organization provides housing for relatives near every major military medical center in the United States to allow them to be near their beloved veteran while they undergo treatment, or services for those whose veterans have passed on. With an astounding 91% of their expenses going directly towards their programs and services, Fisher House is able to help approximately 10,000 families per year during their time of need.
As of January 2014, there were roughly 50,000 homeless veterans in the United States, making up 8.6% of the homeless population within the country. Operation Homefront in San Antonio, Texas aims to reduce that number as much as possible, providing food, moving assistance, transportation, home goods, and financial assistance to veterans and their families experiencing such hardships. CharityWatch regards them as veterans’ best options in times of emergency, and to no surprise. 92% of their earnings are spent on the good of the veterans.
Wounded Warriors Family Support
Different from the Wounded Warrior Project, the Wounded Warriors Family Support is an organization specializing in assisting the loved ones of injured veterans. This charity offers retreats for these families as a way of relaxing during times of stress, while also caring for the veterans themselves through several programs. Some of these include welding programs in coordination with the United Auto Workers Union and Ford, as well as a respite program for the caregivers of injured veterans, with 83% of their income being directly contributed to these services.
If you are interested in learning more or donating to any one of these truly beneficial charities, simply click on the names above to visit their websites.
