They can have my can tabs too if they really want.
October 11, 2010 12:51 PM Subscribe
What is the best charity for veterans?
Last time I bought cooking beer, I bought Miller High Life and saw this effort which strikes me as useless for addressing the problems faced by returning veterans. So, I decided to donate money to a more appropriate charity rather than donate $1.80 to what appears to be a lottery. The Wounded Warrior Project looks to be more like something I would like to donate to, but they get a lousy rating on Charity Navigator. Am I missing something? Is that rating deserved? Is the IAVA (stated recipient of the Miller High Life funds) actually doing good work and I'm just being a jerk? Is there a third option?
Last time I bought cooking beer, I bought Miller High Life and saw this effort which strikes me as useless for addressing the problems faced by returning veterans. So, I decided to donate money to a more appropriate charity rather than donate $1.80 to what appears to be a lottery. The Wounded Warrior Project looks to be more like something I would like to donate to, but they get a lousy rating on Charity Navigator. Am I missing something? Is that rating deserved? Is the IAVA (stated recipient of the Miller High Life funds) actually doing good work and I'm just being a jerk? Is there a third option?
returningveterans.org provides free counseling to vets and their families.
posted by space_cookie at 1:45 PM on October 11, 2010
posted by space_cookie at 1:45 PM on October 11, 2010
I don't really see the lottery connection with IAVA-- their mission is a combination of awareness / advocacy and planning events for OIF/OEF vets (sporting events and concerts, mostly). Maybe it's not a model that addresses the core issues, but it's certainly not harmful. A common complaint from my friends and loved ones who have been deployed is that people who haven't just don't get it, and spending time with others who share the experience is good.
My favorite veterans charity is Homes for Our Troops, which uses a combination of VA funding and charitable donations to build adapted houses for severely disabled vets.
posted by charmcityblues at 1:46 PM on October 11, 2010
My favorite veterans charity is Homes for Our Troops, which uses a combination of VA funding and charitable donations to build adapted houses for severely disabled vets.
posted by charmcityblues at 1:46 PM on October 11, 2010
Kind of piggybacking on VT@MU here, but what do you like to do, OP? Google that and add "veterans," and odds are someone has set up a charity to do it with vets. If not, start one yourself. Call your local VA and say, "Hey, I'm a [rock climbing|beekeeping|roller disco enthusiast], and I was wondering if you've got anyone there who'd like to take it up as a hobby."
posted by Etrigan at 2:07 PM on October 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by Etrigan at 2:07 PM on October 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
I see from your profile that you are in MA, so maybe consider The New England Center for Homeless Veterans.
They have a variety of programs for area homeless vets, including emergency shelter, transitional housing, help with permanent housing, job training, case management, addiction treatment programs, and medical care.
I know of them because I work for the homeless health care program that supplies the services for the medical clinic there (although I don't work at that site myself). But I know that a lot of the vets that I see in practice get great benefit from NECHV.
posted by tentacle at 3:08 PM on October 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
They have a variety of programs for area homeless vets, including emergency shelter, transitional housing, help with permanent housing, job training, case management, addiction treatment programs, and medical care.
I know of them because I work for the homeless health care program that supplies the services for the medical clinic there (although I don't work at that site myself). But I know that a lot of the vets that I see in practice get great benefit from NECHV.
posted by tentacle at 3:08 PM on October 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
Here's what Charity Navigator has to say: Supporting America's Heroes
posted by decathecting at 3:30 PM on October 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by decathecting at 3:30 PM on October 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
Personally, I think the High Life connection is ironic in a really sad way -- rates of substance abuse, particularly the abuse of alcohol, are super high among veterans, who are already extremely vulnerable due to things like PTSD and brain injury.
Between 2004 and 2006, 7.1% of veterans met the criteria for a substance abuse issue within the past year.
Problems with alcohol and nicotine abuse are the most prevalent and pose a significant risk to the health of veterans as well as to Reserve component and National Guard soldiers. At greatest risk are deployed personnel with combat exposures, as they are more apt to engage in new-onset heavy weekly drinking, binge drinking, and to suffer alcohol-related problems; as well as smoking initiation and relapse. Within this group, Reserve and National Guard personnel and younger service members are particularly vulnerable to subsequent drinking problems. And although alcohol problems are frequently reported among veterans, few are referred to alcohol treatment. (source)
Also, see this. (These aren't the greatest links, but you get the point.)
So having a cheap beer saying they're supporting vets, even as alcohol abuse eats away at the remaining lives of vets and those around them? Wow. That's balls.
posted by Madamina at 3:38 PM on October 11, 2010
Between 2004 and 2006, 7.1% of veterans met the criteria for a substance abuse issue within the past year.
Problems with alcohol and nicotine abuse are the most prevalent and pose a significant risk to the health of veterans as well as to Reserve component and National Guard soldiers. At greatest risk are deployed personnel with combat exposures, as they are more apt to engage in new-onset heavy weekly drinking, binge drinking, and to suffer alcohol-related problems; as well as smoking initiation and relapse. Within this group, Reserve and National Guard personnel and younger service members are particularly vulnerable to subsequent drinking problems. And although alcohol problems are frequently reported among veterans, few are referred to alcohol treatment. (source)
Also, see this. (These aren't the greatest links, but you get the point.)
So having a cheap beer saying they're supporting vets, even as alcohol abuse eats away at the remaining lives of vets and those around them? Wow. That's balls.
posted by Madamina at 3:38 PM on October 11, 2010
I met someone who works with Stand Down, (which works with homeless veterans), and she of course says they're awesome. They don't pop up on Charity Navigator, so I don't know how you'd evalulate them.
posted by small_ruminant at 3:53 PM on October 11, 2010
posted by small_ruminant at 3:53 PM on October 11, 2010
Oops. That looks like a different Stand Down. I think this is the one she was talking about.
posted by small_ruminant at 3:55 PM on October 11, 2010
posted by small_ruminant at 3:55 PM on October 11, 2010
IAVA is primarily an advocacy organization. I get the impression they're really there to be an information resource, and to lobby on behalf of new veterans. I found them quite helpful when trying to navigate the new GI Bill, and I've attended a few events locally in NYC, which I liked.
I don't know anything about charity ratings, but I do have some friends who've benefited from Wounded Warrior Project's services and think it's a pretty great group.
There's also National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund, Disabled American Veterans...
posted by lullaby at 4:27 PM on October 11, 2010
I don't know anything about charity ratings, but I do have some friends who've benefited from Wounded Warrior Project's services and think it's a pretty great group.
There's also National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund, Disabled American Veterans...
posted by lullaby at 4:27 PM on October 11, 2010
Project Valour-IT.
"Project Valour-IT, in memory of SFC William V. Ziegenfuss, helps provide voice-controlled/adaptive laptop computers and other technology to support Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines recovering from hand wounds and other severe injuries."
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 5:36 PM on October 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
"Project Valour-IT, in memory of SFC William V. Ziegenfuss, helps provide voice-controlled/adaptive laptop computers and other technology to support Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines recovering from hand wounds and other severe injuries."
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 5:36 PM on October 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
I bought a t-shirt with a Bill Mauldin cartoon from his son, and a portion of the price ($5 of $15, I think) went to the Soldiers Project to provide counseling to returning vets:
http://www.thesoldiersproject.org/news/purchase-mauldin-t-shirts-httpbillmauldincom/
posted by wenestvedt at 7:49 AM on October 12, 2010
http://www.thesoldiersproject.org/news/purchase-mauldin-t-shirts-httpbillmauldincom/
posted by wenestvedt at 7:49 AM on October 12, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
Might be something worth checking into.
posted by VT@MU at 1:05 PM on October 11, 2010