Overseas Troop Support
VFW and Ladies Auxiliary projects range from Operation Uplink, which provides prepaid long-distance telephone cards to deployed military personnel and hospitalized veterans, to sponsoring morale-boosting programs, such as Adopt-a-Unit in which troops are sent food and other reminders of home. Every year VFW Posts in District 19 ship thousands of packages to our troops serving overseas and support them upon their return home. The VFW continues to serve!
Volunteering in VA Hospitals and Other Medical Facilities
Members volunteer millions of hours each year in Veterans Administration Medical Centers and other hospitals throughout the country. VFW Service Officers assist veterans and current military personnel with problems, such as guaranteeing disability compensation of acquiring well-deserved military awards.
Charitable Donations/Research
Every year the VFW and Ladies Auxiliary donates hundreds of thousands of dollars to people and families needing help and to organizations such as the American Cancer Society. Since 1987, the Ladies Auxiliary has raised more than $3,000,000 each year to help cancer-stricken members and to invest in research. Postdoctoral fellowships and research grants are awarded annually throughout the country.
Legislative Action
Recently ranked among the most influential lobbies and the top veterans' lobby on Capitol Hill, the VFW maintains an office in Washington, DC to monitor legislative issues of interest and keep members informed about the VA budget, future health care, POW/MIA accountability, and other legislation regarding national security and veterans' entitlements. VFW and Ladies Auxiliary members telephone, send letters, and e-mail elected officials, encouraging support of the VFW and Ladies Auxiliary positions on important legislation.
Community Service
Conducting fund raisers for people in need of transplants, helping fire and flood victims, volunteering to help with programs sponsored by other organizations, such as Special Olympics, March of Dimes, Ronald McDonald and Fisher houses, Salvation Army and Make-A-Wish Foundation are just a sampling of the volunteer efforts provided by our members. In addition, working together, the VFW and Ladies Auxiliary assist homeless veterans and other non-hospitalized veterans and current military personnel, along with their families, who need food, clothing, transportation, or other assistance.
Constructive community service is a founding VFW tenet with volunteerism benefiting education, the environment, health sciences and civic projects.
The VFW has a rich tradition associated with community service, working closely with organizations in the local community, state, and nation. The VFW is a partner in every community where we have a Post.
Each year VFW and Ladies Auxiliary members donate:
- More than 13 million volunteer hours to community service projects and local VA medical facilities.
- Nearly, $67 million to various community endeavors.
Interested in teaming up with the VFW to give back to your community? Please contact your local VFW Post.
Youth Programs
Through our many youth programs, support of scouting (both boys and girls), the Patriot Pen Essay Contest and Voice of Democracy contests, the members of the VFW continue to ensure our youth will grow up with the values that make a good citizen.
