With the 4th of July coming up, we at Charity Charge want to take a moment to say thank you to all those that have served in the armed forces. We recognize the immense sacrifice they have given and are grateful for preserving our freedoms. We recognize the sacrifice their families have made, sending off sons and daughters, fathers and mothers to make the world a better place. And we recognize those that did not return, who bravely gave their lives for their fellow soldiers, the United States of America, and the freedom of those around the world.

We want to shine a light on some of the nonprofits who we think do a fantastic job of helping those who served as well as their families after they have returned home. The first of these we would like to highlight is Homes for our Troops (HOFT). It is unfortunately common for veterans to return home early due to serious injuries that leave them unable to serve. And often these injuries leave veterans unable to adjust to their old lives. HOFT provides specially adapted mortgage-free homes to veterans and their families in a city of the family’s choosing. Beyond that, HOFT offers families with financial, educational and therapeutic advising which allows veterans to get back to providing their families. Since their foundation after 9/11, HOFT has built 213 specially adapted homes and we hope to see them build many more.

After years of service, it can be difficult to transition back.  Many veterans find themselves without jobs, putting stress on them to provide for their families. It is tragic that almost half a million veterans find themselves without jobs today especially considering how much these men and women have given in service to our country. Hire Heroes USA meets with veterans and their spouses to help them market themselves to potential employers and get meaningful work. On average they help more than 100 veterans and spouses get hired every week. They have done an amazing job giving back to our vets and we appreciate the work they do.

Many of our nation’s soldiers leave families at home to serve their country. While it is definitely not an easy transition, one organization works to soften the impact on the lives of the children of those serving. Since its’ founding in 2004, Our Military Kids has created over 54,000 grants totalling over $22 million  to fund activities and academic support for children who fall outside the parameters of established support programs. These children show improved academic performance across the board as well as an improvement in overall well-being.

The final organization we’d like to spotlight is the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP). When a hero has been wounded in the line of duty, their whole family feels the ramifications. So, WWP ensures families gets all the help they can, be it physical, medical, mental or financial. Since September 11th WWP has helped over 45,000 families by providing over 2 billion dollars’ worth of aid by through lobbying and advocacy efforts. Once again, we are humbled and grateful for the work they have done for those who have served in the name of our country and their families.