The holidays can be a particularly stressful time for some military families, when having only one paycheck and only one parent at home becomes increasingly noticeable.
One of the (seemingly) easiest ways to help during the holidays is by donating money or needed items directly to a charity. These organizations do most of the legwork for you, facilitating feel-good transactions that don’t add too much to your already-heaping holiday plate.
How do you choose your military charity and avoid charity scams?
In Imperial Beach, Calif., the local commissary takes donations each year to be able to provide a Thanksgiving dinner to military families in the area.
Whether you want to show support for troops still overseas or raise funds for wounded warriors coming home, picking a specific cause that’s important to you and your family will make it easier to identify a respected charity and see results as you continue to give.
There are a lot of needs that need to be addressed in the military community. Talk to your local VA or other area veterans groups. They will likely be able to point you in the direction of the greatest need, and get you in contact with reputable charitable organizations. Or check out a website like charitywatch.org.
There are a lot of great military charities to be found this holiday season. But there are a number of shady ones, too. To make sure your donations are going to where you intend them to, vet organizations using these six tips.
Unfortunately, scams involving veterans and other military personnel aren’t at all uncommon. Here are some other tips for avoiding scams targeting these individuals.
There are many ways to support these and other military families at Christmas and year-round.You can volunteer with veterans, send a care package to deployed troops or even extend a simple act of kindness to the military families left behind.
Eager to give more in the new year? Check out these tips for donating without spreading yourself too thin.
Photo courtesy Official U.S. Navy Imagery.
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