When you think of ways to support, the first thing that may come to mind is paying money into an organization. However, there is a handful of great ways to support and help our nation’s finest without spending a dime. We have compiled a list of ways to support veterans for free in case you woke up today with the intent of helping others!
Volunteer At a Veteran Organization
Veteran organizations are on a constant lookout for volunteers. A quick Google search will quickly provide you the veteran organizations in your area. Not only is volunteering a great way to show your support for a particular community, but it also looks great on your resume!
Donate Your Old Car
Getting ready to upgrade your ride? Still haven’t sold that old coup in your driveway after five years of wishing it off your property? If your car is over 10 years old and has over 150,000 miles on it, chances are Kelly Blue Book won’t be giving you a high trade-in value, to begin with. No doubt, there is a veteran in your area that would be filled with extreme gratitude to be able to drive your old ride.
Donate Old Books
Let’s face it, you’re probably never going to reread that book on your shelf gathering dust since 1991. You can donate your old book to a VA hospital for injured or disabled veterans to enjoy as they recover from invasive surgery. You could also donate children’s books to a veteran who just recently became and grandma or grandpa for them to enjoy with their little ones!
Say Thank You… and REALLY Mean It
Veterans hear ‘Thank you for your service” on a regular basis. So regularly, it can sometimes feel disingenuous. Next time you want to thank a veteran for their time serving the country, make sure they really feel appreciated- not like you’re just saying it because you feel as though you should.
Provide Home Services “on the house”
There could be a handful of veterans on your same block who need a cabinet re-painted, a door put back on the hinges, or a lightbulb on their porch changed out. Maybe you just happen to own a toolbox and you’re the able person willing to take on the small tasks needed by your neighbor. Offering complimentary handy services could take twenty minutes to an hour out of your day but make a huge difference to a veteran who needs a little extra help around the house.
Offer To Pick Up Groceries
You’re going to the grocery store anyways. Why not grab a few extra items for your veteran neighbor or offer them a ride to the store with you? For a veteran suffering from regular physical pain, something as simple as taking a trip to the grocery store can feel like a daunting task.
Offer Transportation
Many disabled veterans are unable to transport themselves to necessary doctors appointments, shopping trips, trips to see their loved ones, etc. Sure, busses are an option, but a trip to the store in your car could take ten minutes, whereas a two-mile-away destination can require two bus rides and unnecessary anxiety for a disabled veteran.
Bring In the Newspaper
Your veteran neighbor might not be able to bend the way they used to, hence the four newspapers sitting at the end of their driveway. It would take you thirty seconds (or less) to bring their paper up to their porch and set it on their mailbox or attach it to their front door handle with the rubber band around the paper.
Donate Your Old Laptop or TV
After only a few years, the monetary value of your new laptop or television diminishes greatly. It’s unlikely you’ll get more than $50 for that ten-year-old LG and it won’t do you much good collecting dust in your closet. However, a veteran without the financial means to purchase a working laptop or television can put your old ones to great use!
Share Veteran Charities On Social Media
Hitting the “share” button on Facebook and encouraging your friends to donate to a veteran-centric charity takes minimal effort and can make a huge impact. Imagine if just five of your Facebook friends decided to donate $10 each. That can add up quickly and help veterans in need all over the country!
Help Your Veteran Neighbor With Yard Work
Another way to support veterans for free is to offer yard work to those who need it. You’re be tidying up your own lawn on Saturday morning as it is. It wouldn’t hurt to walk across the road to spend ten minutes mowing your disabled or elderly veteran neighbor’s lawn.
Give A Complimentary Haircut
We all know that feeling after a fresh haircut. Veterans in financial predicaments may not be fortunate enough to enjoy the luxury of a regular haircut. However, you have scissors and an electric razor you could put to good use by providing a veteran with a free haircut!
Bring Your Veteran Neighbor a Dinner Plate
Be honest with yourself, your five-year-old won’t be eating your beef stroganoff no matter how much you bed them to. However, your veteran neighbor who hasn’t had a hearty homecooked meal in a while would thoroughly enjoy the meal!
Now that you have this list of ways to support veterans for free, how will you put it to action?
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