For my fellow veterans, retirees, and those still serving, what are some of the ways you are giving back to your community?

2023-04-27T19:21:33-04:00

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Apr 27 at 2023 11:43 PM

2023-04-27T23:43:20-04:00

PGR, Red Cross, Vet 2 Vet peer counseling

Response by MAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D. made Apr 28 at 2023 4:14 AM

2023-04-28T04:14:32-04:00

By being active in VSOs (DAV, MOPH, VFW, VVA).

Response by CSM Chuck Stafford made Apr 28 at 2023 7:45 AM

2023-04-28T07:45:25-04:00

Coaching and scouting

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Apr 28 at 2023 12:22 PM

2023-04-28T12:22:44-04:00

I work in social service.

Plus I donate blood as often as I can. That's an easy one, take an hour or two (counting driving there) once every couple months and it saves lives. GIVE BLOOD PEOPLE!!!!!!

Response by SGM Mikel Dawson made Apr 29 at 2023 11:03 AM

2023-04-29T11:03:46-04:00

I live in Denmark, so can't do much, but I do make knives, mostly go to fellow 11Bs, or others I have served with. When it comes to payment, they donate the money to a veterans support group in Oregon. I also make knives and sent to the group which has get togethers twice a year. There they have auctions, where my knives are auctioned off. The money from the group goes to support Vets around the area. This is my give back. Just an example of one I made for a guy who served in the 101st.

Response by A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney made Apr 30 at 2023 10:11 AM

2023-04-30T10:11:05-04:00

.
Individually....
Having Come From Poverty, I'm First In Line To Give Someone A Hand, Any Time They Need One... In My Earlier Years, Before The VA Disabled Me, I'd Load Up Some Envelopes With $20's In Each; Wander Through A Grocery Store Looking For Anyone Whom Appeared "In Need"....

NOW Here Where The FUN Comes Into Play,....
Saddle Up Close To Their Cart & Sneak In As Many Envelopes As You'd Like,
Then Slowly Walk Away Totally Un-Noticed....They'll Find The Cash & NEVER Know Where It Came From.
Just Do It ONCE, And It'll Become A HABIT.
As I Learned From My Brother Jim, When I Was In My Early Teens, &. Living With Him & His Family:
~~~ "If You're More Fortunate Than Others, Build A LONGER Table, Not A HIGHER Wall" ~~~
.

Response by PO1 Robert Ryan made Apr 30 at 2023 10:25 AM

2023-04-30T10:25:17-04:00

Members of our church who are Vets help with Transitioning soldiers at Fort Sam here in san Antonio. I bring flyers and other important Veterans administration info so they know the various service organizations that can help them with claims if they need to file one. I also let them know if they are staying in the San Antonio area about the Veterans Outreach center here in San Antonio.

Response by CPT Steven Cunningham made Apr 30 at 2023 11:21 AM

2023-04-30T11:21:03-04:00

Served as State Representative (by the way, the pay in NH is $100/year), Zoning Board, town health officer, Hazmat team, MMRS, mentor for Hire Heroes USA, and more. Slowing down in old age.

Response by SSG Douglas Espinosa made Apr 30 at 2023 11:33 AM

2023-04-30T11:33:27-04:00

I took a job working for the US Fish and Wildlife Service to give back to the nation in Wildlife Conservation.

Response by PO3 Bill Mittler made Apr 30 at 2023 4:31 PM

2023-04-30T16:31:17-04:00

I thank every veteran I meet

Response by SMSgt Bob W. made Apr 30 at 2023 5:02 PM

2023-04-30T17:02:17-04:00

Pay taxes. As a retiree, you can't life off your retirement. So, you get a job working 8-10 hours a day. Then you have the family issues to take care of. Most of the people in the neighborhood support youth activities, the high school and church. With that said, some of us can make time, MONTHLY, to work feeding homeless people, cutting grass for neighbors who are unable to, or at the library reading to children on Saturday mornings. To be honest and truthfully, most of us have very little time to support our community. If we can do something monthly, great. We are past the military's, for promotion, you have to community involvement by helping build a "Jimmy Carter house or work a 'military appreciation day" in the sun directing traffic onto the post/base so the community can see the latest military "toy" the local installation has. My best one was cleanup the ball field so the local kids can play ball. DAH!!! If the kids want to play ball, they can cleanup the ball field, paint the dugouts or the concession stand. The Volunteers can repair the concession stand or the dugouts. It's a two-way proposition.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made May 1 at 2023 3:15 PM

2023-05-01T15:15:28-04:00

I volunteer my time to help veterans with PTSD. I have helped veterans that the VA could not heal.

Response by Lt Col Patrick Howard made Oct 17 at 2024 3:36 AM

2024-10-17T03:36:35-04:00

I'm promoting a veteran support program, oregonians helping veterans. Any Oregon veteran can go to a food provider, food truck, restaurant, bar, etc and select a paid for meal, drink, dessert, or any combination. The food is already paid for by an Oregonian who wants to show their appreciation to veterans from Oregon. At this point we have organized 45 food providers throughout the state of Oregon. The key point. The veteran selects the paper receipt from a bulletin board no questions asked, just accept the integrity of a Oregonian who served in the military. As my time allows and my travels take me throughout Oregon I had about 10 or more food providers every month.