The Purple Heart is one of the highest honors bestowed to an individual by the President. Sadly, such an honor is given if a soldier is wounded or killed. While not every wound is physical, there are many ways to support purple heart recipients.
Whether you know purple heart recipients or not, they deserve our help acclimating to civilian life. It is hard enough transitioning from soldier to civilian without the added strain and disability of an injury. Fortunately, many Americans are blessed with an abundance of items that they can donate to those in need.
Did you know that nearly 100% of household linens and clothing can be recycled, no matter the quality or condition? That means those rags you use for cleaning are still good for numerous other purposes. Don’t become one of the Americans that throws away nearly 70 pounds of clothing, linens, and other textiles each year. Donate them to wounded veterans charities. A little bit of extra effort makes all the difference to someone in need.
5 Ways to Help Purple Heart Recipients Today
Clothes Donations
We like spending money on clothes. It just makes us feel good. For someone who doesn’t have a lot of money to spend, like wounded veterans and purple heart recipients, finding the money for clothes can be a challenge. This is especially true if their injury requires a special fit. There are many charitable organizations that offer a clothing drop off or that will pick up donations at home. Don’t let last season’s clothes that don’t fit anymore go to waste.
Volunteer
Alongside donating, there is often a need for volunteers at charity organizations. Whether an organization needs help sorting through the numerous clothes and linens donated or someone to drive around gathering donations picked up at home, there is always a way to give back your time. It is a great way to show support to purple heart recipients and other wounded veterans.
Food Donations
If someone is in need of clothes, they are often in need of food. A quick search on your computer will yield which charities accept donations as food products. A common option is local food banks. Check your local area to donate today.
Household Items
Do you have an old filter and drip coffee maker sitting in your cupboards because it was replaced by a fancy espresso machine? If you answered yes, donate it! Not only will it help disabled veterans in need, but a coffee maker can also be written off on your taxes from $4 to $15.
Car Donations
Yes, it is quite a large item to offer up as a donation. However, it makes a vast difference in the daily life of purple heart recipients and veterans with disabilities. A donated car can help a family get their kids to and from school safely. It can also save them money on bus fares or other public transportation services. If you have an old car in your garage, consider donating it instead of trading it in.
Donating Today for a Stronger Tomorrow
While donating to purple heart recipients can improve their quality of life, recycling your clothes and other household items is helping to keep them from ending up in a landfill. By donating your items instead of throwing them away, you are leaving a better environmental footprint for future generations.
By supporting and helping military families and veterans with disabilities in need, we are helping our world succeed and grow each day. Even if it just something as simple as donations of clothes and food, such smalls acts go a long way.