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WarriorsFamilyAssist
Warriors Family
Assistance Program
Warriors Family Assistance
Guidebook for Members PDF
THE WARRIOR’S FAMILY
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
The Department of New York, American
Legion Auxiliary was proud to have initiated a new program for our Current
Veterans.
This program is primarily targeted
towards recently deployed and recently discharged Veterans of the Iraq War.
Since 9-11, New York State has had one the largest deployment of Armed
Forces in the nation. This is with a concentration on the Reserve and the
National Guard as well as any other branch of the forces. Our casualties
have been many, and the numbers of our wounded are getting higher and higher
each day.
Our Veterans Population now reflects many faces of women in the ranks,
married couples serving at the same time, fathers, mothers, and sons serving
in the same war. The make up of our armed forces has certainly changed over
the decades, and, the effect on the families left at home has been drastic.
The activated National Guard and the Reserves are the most exposed to
financial difficulties, often leaving well paying jobs to serve their
country, they leave their families very vulnerable, and have no promise of a
job when they return. The fact is that many of our military families live
under the poverty level, and now we add the “New” dynamics of other veterans
to the picture, and this spells HELP!
What about our wounded veterans who have returned, what happens after
rehabilitation? Where do they go? What do they do if they can no longer
return to the usual workplace? What do they need?
What about the children of our warriors, how are they affected? What are
their needs? How do we keep their dreams and futures secure?
These are just some of the questions the members
of the great DEPARTMENT OF NEW YORK can answer by their involvement.
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The
introduction of the
WARRIORS FAMILY
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, this is
where it begins. Grants will be given up to $1,500 to families of veterans
needing assistance, this could be for education, home repair, mortgage
payments, heat, or basic needs to help get them through. We hope funding
for this program will begin with the monies used in the past for the
Valentine’s Day Distribution. Hopefully, Units will send in donations
towards this project.
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Involvement in your Communities -
network with local companies, you will be surprised how many local
contractors will donate the labor to help build ramps, or therapy rooms.
Find local merchants, media and other donors who will help match funds to
buy, build, or renovate for a veteran, to help make their life better and
more productive.
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Involve your local media, make it
known that the American Legion Auxiliary cares about our Warriors, and all
of our Veterans, let the magic of the media create new interest in the
lives of your local military and their families. Most of all let them know
we are here to help and support them.
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Find partnerships, contact our politicians,
major companies, perhaps they will donate matching funds (all tax
deductible). Have fundraisers, bowl-a-thons, and walk-a-thons, get the
Juniors involved and the Sons of the American Legion, the American Legion
for the Warriors Family! Sell lemonade, cup cakes, arts and crafts,
anything that can bring in funds and build recognition to the program, and
to the Warriors Family Assistance Program. For those of you who cannot
come out and participate, create crafts for sale, phone-a-thons,
email-a-thons, text messaging-a-thons, even computer game-a-thons? We can
use technology in creating excitement too! |
It is no more rolling
bandages, it is time to roll up our sleeves, and think, work, and expedite!
We need to generate interest, we need to create excitement, we need to get
out into the real world and find out what is going on. Do not rely on the
information coming to you; you have to go get it!
Sending packages, greetings, phone cards, hospital visitations, and all is
still very important, please don’t sacrifice these types of programs, but,
there is room for more, and more.
You can make this happen, you can make it exciting, you can make so many
lives better, and more valued. We can make a big difference in the lives of
many.
Warriors Family assistance Guidelines
Warriors Family Assistance
Committee consists of the following members:
Email: Ann Geer
Department Children and Youth Chairman – designated as chairman
Email:
Sally Johnston
Department Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Chairman
Email: Patricia
Bergin
Department National Security Chairman
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Dept. Pres. Pin
Pres. Theme
“Teamwork is the Key to Our Success”
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