Military families often face unique challenges that while civilian families may be able to empathize with, seldom experience first hand. Getting involved with an organization that helps military families and veterans may help you to better understand the difficulties these families face.
While it’s common for many people to make charitable donations during the winter holiday season between Thanksgiving and Christmas, it’s important to realize that helping military families is a full time, year round job. Helping families in need by volunteering your time or making donations can be done during any time of year.
Not only is volunteering or donating an excellent way to give back to the military community, it’s a great way to get involved with other members of your local community and unite under a common cause.
Volunteering or making a donation can take time, time which many people unfortunately do not due to hectic work schedules and other obligations. However, there are a number of easy, simple ways to give back to the military community that require little to no time.
Clothing donations are a perfect way to show veteran and active duty military support while also supporting environmental efforts. Donating clothes significantly reduces the amount of textile waste and pollution in landfills.
They can be picked up directly from your home or office, dropped off at a designated clothing donation bin, or donated in person at a charity. However, many donors choose to have the donations picked up from their homes or work as a matter of convenience.
The beginning of the new year brought frigid, sub-zero temperatures across the nation. As such, winter clothing donations are in high demand. Items such as jackets, hats, coats, gloves, and scarves are all needed.
In addition, gently used professional attire and business casual items such as jackets, button down shirts, dress shoes, pencil skirts, blouses, and heels are often requested by military and veteran charities. Veterans office face higher rates of unemployment, therefore, donating professional clothing helps to save them the expense of purchasing interview-worthy clothes while giving them a competitive edge.