3 unique ways to give back to service members
Military service in the
United States was once
more common than it
is today. According to
the Council on Foreign
Relations, the draft for
military service was
ended in 1973, a point
in time when 2.2 million
men and women made
up the country’s active
military personnel. By
2018, the number had
dipped below 1.3 million.
Military service in
Canada is also somewhat
uncommon, as
the Department of National
Defence reports
that active military
personnel totaled just
68,000 as of 2018.
The vast majority
of people in countries
where military service
is not compulsory
will never serve in the
military. But that does
not mean non-military
personnel do not appreciate
the sacrifi ces
service members and
their families make.
In fact, a recent report
conducted for
Canada’s Department
of National Defence
found that while many
Canadians seem only
vaguely aware of what
their military does, appreciation
for service
members was high.
Service members
and their families make
many sacrifi ces to protect
the lives and freedoms
of their fellow
citizens. The following
are three unique ways
to give back to these
selfl ess men and women,
who often benefi t
greatly from even the
simplest of gestures.
1. Serve as a driver
for veterans.
Unfortunately, many
service members return
from overseas
missions with disabilities,
some of which
prevent them from
driving. Adults who
want to help service
members can serve
as drivers for veterans
who can’t drive themselves.
How to help veterans in need
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, N 44 OVEMBER 8-14, 2019 BTR
Such a gesture
ensures they won’t
miss any appointments
with doctors or physical
therapists, helping
them get on the road
to recovery that much
quicker.
2. Donate your
airline miles.
Some disabled veterans
receive medical
treatments far away
from home at facilities
that specialize in treating
certain types of injuries,
which can make
it diffi cult for their families
to be there for them
during their recoveries.
By donating airline
miles to military families,
ordinary adults can
ensure injured servicemen
and -women can
still see their families
during diffi cult times
in their lives. Access to
such support systems
can be a big help as
veterans work to recover
from their injuries.
3. Sponsor a
service dog.
A signifi cant percentage
of veterans return
home with post-traumatic
stress disorder,
or PTSD. PTSD has
been linked to a host
of conditions, including
depression and
anxiety. However, programs
such as Companions
for Heroes,
an organization that
places service dogs
with veterans, has
helped many veterans
successfully cope with
PTSD. By sponsoring
a service dog through
an organization such
as Companions for
Heroes, adults who
want to help service
members can provide
an invaluable service
to men and women
fi ghting to regain their
quality of life.
There are many
ways for ordinary
citizens to show their
support for the brave
men and women who
selfl essly serve in the
military.
Millions of men and women
serve in the military and make
the sacrifi ces that such service
requires. Risking their
lives to serve their countries,
veterans sometimes endure
mental and physical trauma,
returning home to face uphill
battles as they deal with their
injuries.
Many veterans in need are
not just in need of medical
attention. Learning that their
efforts and sacrifi ces are
recognized and appreciated
by the ordinary citizens they
protect can make a world
of difference to veterans as
they recover from their injuries.
Men, women and children
who want to help veterans
in need can do so in
various ways.
• Visit a veterans hospital.
Contact a local veterans’
hospital to inquire about their
volunteer programs. The
U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs notes that each year
more than 75,000 volunteers
spend more than 11 million
hours in service to America’s
veterans. Visiting veterans
at the hospital to hear their
stories can lift their spirits
and aid in their recoveries. In
addition, veterans’ hospitals
may have volunteer opportunities
that make it easier for
hospitals to operate at optimal
capacity.
• Help a neighbor. Unfortunately,
many veterans return
home with injuries that
affect their ability to make it
through a typical day without
assistance. Disabled veterans
may be unable to do
their own grocery shopping
or maintain their homes. If a
neighbor or nearby veteran
is facing such hurdles, offer
to do his or her shopping or
mow his or her lawn. Such
tasks won’t take much time
but can make a world of difference
to
veterans.
• Offer professional services
free of charge. Professionals
who want to help
veterans can offer their services
free of charge. Accountants
can offer to prepare
veterans’ tax returns
for free, while attorneys
can provide legal advice to
veterans who need it. Contractors
can help disabled
veterans by offering to make
alterations to their homes
for free or at cost.
• Employ social media to
help local veterans. Many
people who want to help
local veterans might not be
able to do so more than one
day per week. But some veterans
may require daily assistance.
Men and women
can start a locally-based
Facebook group for fellow
members of their community
who want to pitch in to
help local veterans. Such a
group can make it easier to
share information and arrange
help for veterans in
need.
Many veterans return
home from serving overseas
in need of help. Offering
such help can improve
veterans’ lives while letting
them know their efforts and
sacrifi ces are appreciated.