There are so many charitable causes seeking your time and resources. How can you know which ones to trust and which ones do what they say they do? I am a big believer in asking a friend with experience. Today I am blessed to
be able to share five charitable organizations that I trust and have had personal experience with. My experience with these organizations has been nothing but positive and I have seen the effect of their work. If you are looking for a way to serve others, this list is a good place to start.
After my husband was injured in Afghanistan, he was sent to an Army medical facility far from our home. I worried about being able to go to him and be there as he got settled into the system of doctors, physical therapy, and readjusting to day-to-day living. Where would my children and I stay? How would we pay for it? In just a couple of days I heard from Fisher House Foundation and they had plane tickets and housing for us at no charge. It was an incredible experience with the truest form of service I have ever seen.
Fisher House Foundation provides homes where military and veterans’ families can stay (at no cost) while a loved one is receiving treatment. Fisher Houses are near major military and VA medical centers and have up to 21 suites, with private bedrooms and baths. Families share a common kitchen, laundry facilities, dining room, and a living room. Fisher House Foundation also operates the Hero Miles program, using donated frequent flyer miles to bring family members to the bedside of injured service members as well as the Hotels for Heroes program using donated hotel points to allow family members to stay at hotels near medical centers without charge.
The mission of Unbound is to walk with the poor and marginalized of the world. Walking with them means helping to provide both sponsorship and friendship to those in need. When you sponsor someone through Unbound, you help them have a better life and you also gain a friend. Unbound sponsors provide support that leads to self-sufficiency.
I personally witnessed Unbound in action while on a mission trip with the organization. Unbound connects the elderly, their caregivers, and mothers in ways I will never forget. This is more than feeding children and the elderly. Click here for information on how they empower women (mothers of sponsored children) and here for how they care for elders. Also, here are tips on how you can afford to sponsor a child.
As part of the Soldier’s Angels organization, Women of Valor is a nonprofit organization that provides support to female caregivers of Post 9-11 wounded, ill and injured service members. Their team of participating Team Angels focuses on providing self-care, love, and support to these caregivers. Caregivers are often so busy caring for their wounded loved one that they forget to take time for themselves. While the focus is often on the veteran member, the Women of Valor Team focuses solely on the female caregiver to ensure they are pampered, loved, and receive the necessary supportive materials to help them along this journey.
You can help by financially supporting Women of Valor or signing up to be a Team Angel.
The Salvation Army exists to meet human need wherever, whenever, and however they can. This Christian organization helps people from all walks of life, religions, and backgrounds. The Salvation Army assists Americans who are seeking the basic necessities of life – food, shelter, and warmth. This organization is led by a commitment to serve all of God’s children without discrimination.
The Operation Military Kids’ mission statement explains the organization best:
Our Military Kids, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, supports children, ages 5-12th grade, of deployed National Guard and Reserve service members and children of wounded warriors from all service branches. Grants pay for participation in activities that help children cope with stress and anxiety while their parents are recovering or absent.
My children have been recipients of these grants and they made an enormous difference when my husband was deployed. This is a truly altruistic organization that helps military children live better lives.
“No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.” — Charles Dickens
About Janice
