5 Ways To Give Back To Veterans During Random Acts Of Kindness Week

Feb. 14-20 is National Random Acts of Kindness Week (RAK Week), brought to you by the RAK Foundation. Kind gestures require little to no effort on your part, but they are small things that can really make a difference in other people’s lives, especially veterans. This RAK Week, consider giving back by helping the veterans who have so selflessly fought for our freedom. We have 5 ideas for you to get involved!

Kind Idea 1: Create Care Packages For Homeless Veterans

Unfortunately, there are many homeless veterans on the streets, despite the many resources that are available for homeless veterans to take advantage of. Help these homeless veterans to get back on their feet by creating care packages and distributing them to homeless veterans.

Care packages could include wallet cards with resources for homeless veterans, an inexpensive, easy-to-use prepaid cell phone with a prepaid phone card, a gift card to a grocery store, food or snacks, blankets, warm socks, toiletry items, books or magazines, and whatever else you can think of! If you have a homeless shelter or soup kitchen nearby, include information about those resources as well.

These care packages could become expensive if you make more than one, so you may want to consider fundraising or gathering a group of friends to help with the expenses and creation of the care packages.

Kind Idea 2: Volunteer To Help Our Troops

AARP put together a great list of volunteer opportunities for different ways to help our troops. A great way to give back during RAK Week is to sign up to volunteer at one of these great organizations:

• Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation
• Disabled American Veterans
• Fisher House Foundation
• Hire Heroes USA
• Homes For Our Troops
• Honor Flight Network
• Hope For The Warriors
• Operation Gratitude
• VA Voluntary Service
• Veterans Support Organization
• Wounded Warrior Project

Kind Idea 3: Donate An Unwanted Car

Whether vehicles are old, new, in need of repairs, or no longer run, they can all be used to benefit our nation’s veterans. If you have a vehicle that you no longer want or need, you can use it to benefit veterans in need of assistance. Cars, trucks, boats, motorcycles, campers, and other types of vehicles can all be used to fund programs and services for veterans in need.

To donate a vehicle during RAK Week, simply call Vehicles For Veterans at 1-855-811-4838 or fill out our online car donation form. Not only is car donation kind and generous, but it’s easy to do and you also receive a great tax deduction!

Kind Idea 4: Shovel Snow For Disabled Veterans

Snow has been piling up in many major cities throughout the U.S., and many people with disabilities are unable to shovel their driveways. This can become a major worry for disabled veterans, and it may be difficult for them to ask for help. That’s where Project EverGreen’s SnowCare for Troops program comes in.

Project EverGreen offers complimentary lawn and landscape services in the spring and summer, and snow and ice removal in the winter. Members of the military and wounded or disabled veterans can register to become a recipient of these services, and volunteers can sign up to help provide these services to veterans in need.

Kind Idea 5: Thank A Veteran

Veterans sacrifice many things when they leave for service, and many of them do so without recognition from the general public. This RAK Week, thank a veteran who you see in uniform, or write a thank you letter to veterans. Operation Gratitude has a great Letter Writing Campaign which helps to show veterans that we care. A simple thank you could be something that turns a veteran’s day around just when they need it most.

Give back to a veteran during RAK Week by doing something kind for our nation’s heroes. They will surely appreciate it!