The VFW’s National Veterans Service (NVS) helps veterans, service members and their families obtain the benefits they deserve – at no cost. NVS provides a nationwide network of nearly 300 VFW Service Officers who help veterans navigate the Veterans Affairs system. Those VFW Service Officers recover more than $1 billion annually in VA benefits for veterans and their dependents. These highly skilled professionals assist all veterans, whether they are VFW members or not, in filing claims for:

• Disability compensation.

• Rehabilitation and educational programs.

• Pension and death benefits.

• Employment and training programs.

 

NVS also works to ensure veterans receive quality, timely and accessible VA health care, including:

• Hospital care.

• Outpatient care.

• Specialized health care for female veterans.

• Alcohol and drug dependency treatment.

• Medical evaluation for disorders associated with military service, exposure to Agent Orange, radiation or other environmental hazards.

 

Donate online at vfw.org/ways-to-help, select National Veterans Service, click "Contribute.”

Donate by mail by sending funds to the VFW earmarked for NVS. Mail check to:

VFW National Headquarters

Attn: NVS

406 W. 34th Street, 11th Floor

Kansas City, MO 64111

 

Veterans & Military Support contains programs initiated by the VFW: Military Assistance Program (MAP), Unmet Needs and the VFW "Sport Clips® Help A Hero Scholarship.” These programs serve active-duty and recently discharged military.

 

Donations to Veterans & Military Support can be made online or by mail.

Donate online at vfw.org/ways-to-help, select Veterans & Military Support, click "Contribute.”

Donate by mail by sending funds to the VFW earmarked for Veterans & Military Support.

Mail check to:

VFW National Headquarters

Attn: Veterans & Military Support

406 W. 34th Street, 9th Floor

Kansas City, MO 64111

 

MAP helps VFW and Auxiliary members give more to their local military units. It helps forge and nurture bonds with those units by providing financial assistance for Posts, Districts and Departments to sponsor morale-boosting send-offs, homecomings and casual get-togethers.

 

Post and Auxiliaries participating in Adopt-a-Unit and Family Readiness Group events can also receive assistance. MAP keeps care packages circulating by covering postage costs.

 

For guidelines to apply for MAP funds, contact the VFW Veterans & Military Support office at 816-756-3390.

 

 

Can Help in a Crisis A soldier is serving on foreign soil, but the rent is due back home. A soldier is driving a tank on alert for IEDs, and the family car needs a new radiator the family cannot afford. These are the situations Unmet Needs can address. VFW National Veterans Service • VFW Veterans & Military Support Programs Assist Veterans, Service Members and Their Families Promote Veteran & Military Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Awareness VETERANS & FAMILY SUPORT PROGRAM 60 | 2022-2023 VFW AUXILIARY NATIONAL PROGRAM BOOK Grants of up to $1,500 payable to a creditor can bridge the gap to make a mortgage or rent payment or to fund home and auto repairs, insurance, utility costs, food and clothing. To learn more, visit vfw.org/assistance/financial-grants.

 

 

The VFW and Sport Clips are giving the gift of scholarships to our nation’s heroes as a way of thanking them for their dedicated service to our nation. The VFW "Sport Clips® Help A Hero Scholarship” awards scholarships of up to $5,000 to qualifying veterans and service members to help them complete their educational goals without incurring excessive student loan debt. To learn more, visit vfw.org/student-veterans-support.

 

 

Make a difference in the life of a veteran or service member in crisis by educating yourself and others about the warning signs of suicide.

 

The Veterans Crisis Line connects veterans in crisis and their families and friends with qualified, caring Department of Veterans Affairs responders through a confidential toll-free hotline, online chat, or text. Veterans and their loved ones can:

• Call 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1,

• Chat online at veteranscrisisline.net, or

• Send a text message to 838255.

 

Confidential support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Support for deaf and hard of hearing individuals is available. Tip: Add the Veterans Crisis Line number as a contact in your cell phone for easy referral.

 

Purchase the Auxiliary Suicide Awareness Prevention Pin from the VFW Store. When someone asks you about your pin, tell them that the VFW Auxiliary is concerned about the rates of suicides among veterans and military service members; we want everyone to be aware of the unique stress they face.

 

 

A staggering 20 veterans commit suicide each day, and the VFW and VFW Auxiliary are committed to helping change the conversation and stigma surrounding mental health in the United States. Change the stigma, improve research, support your community and explore treatment options at the resources below:

• VFW Mental Wellness Campaign

   vfw.org/assistance/mental-wellness

• The Campaign to Change Direction

   changedirection.org

• Give An Hour

   giveanhour.org

• Patients Like Me

   patientslikeme.com/join/vfw

• One Mind

   onemind.org

• The Elizabeth Dole Foundation

   elizabethdolefoundation.org

• Help Heal Veterans (Therapeutic Craft Kits)

   healvets.org

• Veterans Voices Writing Project

   veteransvoices.org