6 Budget-Friendly Ways to Support a Veteran, Service Member or Their Family

Serving in the U.S. armed forces is a life-changing commitment for both service members and their families. And that commitment doesn’t stop just because their service does. Many veterans carry additional physical and mental burdens from their time in active duty. While there are many state and federal programs to help service members and their families, it’s rarely enough. We as their community can be their lifeline, though we often think we can’t do enough because of time or money. Now is time to think again! Here are six budget-friendly ways you can support a service member, veteran or their family.

Send care packages to deployed armed service members

Depending on the size of the box, care packages can take as little as two weeks and as much as six months to make it to someone deployed overseas. Obviously, this means nonperishable foods are best, like energy bars, pretzels, candy and powdered drinks. Travel size toiletries are always welcome, along with socks, underwear or gloves. You can get discounts by using online Kohls coupon codes for many items like these at big-box stores like Kohl’s or Target.

Cook meals for the family of a deployed service member

Military families are often living off limited time and money when a partner is deployed. The household functions like a single parent and that makes even simple daily tasks, like cooking, much more complicated. Providing a meal to families in these situations can help the parent by taking one thing off their plate and gives them with access to healthy, fresh foods. You can cook for them once or twice a week on a small budget by taking advantage of sales and promotions at major grocery chains like Walmart.

Hire veterans at your business

More than 3 percent of veterans are unemployed, which makes it very tough for many service members trying to settle into a sense of normalcy after their time in the military. You can make a major impact in their lives and the lives of their families by providing employment opportunities. You’ll help veterans find a sense of meaning and purpose at a time when they may feel lost or confused. Plus, the federal government provides robust tax incentives for companies that hire veterans.

Support programs that provide services for veterans

Volunteering gives many people the opportunity to feel more involved in their community. If you are called to help service members and veterans, find an organization in your town that supports them. From training therapy dogs to helping veterans visit war memorials, there are more than 40,000 trusted military support organizations across the U.S. If you don’t have a lot of free time, you might be able to earn money or student loan reimbursement from volunteering with one of these organizations or through AmeriCorps.

Be an active listener

Sometimes just being there is what a veteran, service member or family member needs to feel supported. Being a good, active listener doesn’t have to cost a thing; yet, it is priceless. It means really listening and being available without judgement. Instead of thinking about what to say next, just focus on being in the present moment. You don’t need to offer solutions or rebuttals; just listen and give them an opportunity to feel heard.

Take care of a deployed service member’s yard

Keeping up with home maintenance can be challenging when you’re deployed. It can also be a burden for spouses and families to try to keep up with. You can help support service members and their families by shoveling snow in the winter, raking leaves in the fall and mowing their lawn in the summer. If you’re comfortable with it, you can even help by cleaning gutters and trimming shrubs. If you need lawn supplies, save big by taking advantage of cashback opportunities at home improvement stories or purchasing refurbished items at a steep discount through Amazon’s Warehouse Deals.

Service to one’s country demands sacrifice. However, if we make one or two of these simple and inexpensive gestures, we can help make their sacrifices less burdensome and their lives a little easier.

Guest Writer Kelli Brewer. You can visit her non-profit website at deploycare.org.