Veteran organizations, are they really helping veterans?

1SG David Niles — Sun, 25 Jan 2015 15:30:48 -0500

I get calls and letters asking for donations from all sorts of "veteran organizations" the say they help veterans. Disabled Veterans, Unemployed Veterans, Homeless Veterans, Incarcerated Veterans ect...

I know a lot of Veterans, some that I have served with others that I have come to know after I got out. Not one of them has been helped by these veteran organizations that have cropped up. The ones that I know help are the VA. a federal agency, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion. I have heard good things from the DAV.

So I guess my question to you all, what organizations have you heard of and KNOW that they take care of Veterans and that you feel is Legit?

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 25 at 2015 4:13 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 25 Jan 2015 16:13:15 -0500

I'll speak for the Veterans Orgs in my area and those that I know have helped Veterans. I live in Hinesville, Ga and worked at Ft. Stewart since 2007. Upon arrival I transferred my Lifetime Disabled American Veterans (DAV) membership to Chapter 46, in Hinesville. This Chapter assists veterans with completing their disability claims to the VA; Acting on behalf of the Veteran when necessary collecting documentatiosn, DD214s, etc. The Chapter assists Veterans who need help with bills, by doing paperwork and referring them to local agencies that will provide the funds for some bills like water and power. The DAV does not give money for this, but we do refer. There are 6 Veteran Homes in our area and we do routine visits and provide certain items likes razor blades, shaving cream, deodorant. For Veterans who need transportation, the Chapter has a DAV Van and volunteer drivers who will take them to their appointments in Dublin, Brunswick, Savannah GA and also to the Veterans Hospital in Charleston, SC. The Chapter office is open 5 days a week staffed by DAV members who volunteer their services and have 4 service officers who do the VA Claims with Veterans. We do have a home for homeless Veterans for short period stays, and we assisted in setting it up with funiture, and household items for Veterans stay. I know that the our local V.F.W. also will do claims for Veterans as well. The V.F.W. also has "the bar" where veterans can drink cheaper than other local bars in town. Our DAV does not have one. This is what our D.A.V does and I believe the same is done all others as well. I will let others talk of organzations they are members of and/or aware of services provided to assist others.

We have coordinated with our local County Emergency Management Agency in it's quest to determine how many homeless people (especially Veterans from our standpoint) are currently living in our County and do all we can to assist in them in getting re-established and on their feet.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 25 at 2015 4:26 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 25 Jan 2015 16:26:18 -0500

Not every organization out there is actually helping. Before donating or supporting any organization you should do some research on them. It is very popular to say that you help veterans or that you are military friendly. I know personally that many organizations are out there to in the spotlight to toot their own horn, but there are just as many out there doing good. Don't judge any organization by its advertising. Look them up and ask around.

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Jan 25 at 2015 5:34 PM

LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow — Sun, 25 Jan 2015 17:34:44 -0500

I served at the Disabled American Veterans local chapter as a Service Officer for over four years, until headaches from my s/c neck injury got too bad. Our office was renowned in the region for our productivity and effectiveness.

In addition to benefits counseling, I provided pastoral counseling to veterans who were suffering and families who were grieving.

I think that VSOs are extremely dedicated to the cause (of course that varies by organization, personality, region, etc). Keep in mind that this is disabled veterans serving disabled veterans. We do this as a labor of love, because who else but a disabled vet really understands what you're going through?

Response by SPC Stewart Smith made Jan 25 at 2015 7:26 PM

SPC Stewart Smith — Sun, 25 Jan 2015 19:26:16 -0500

American Legion

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 25 at 2015 10:35 PM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 25 Jan 2015 22:35:55 -0500

1SG David Niles This is one of those never ending stories..... MOST VSO's (Veterans Service Organizations) are non-profit organizations. For most of us that means the local organization - the one most of us actually meet - are dependent on the good will and donations of those in our community. Of course, there's the regional organization/group and utlitmately the national organization/group. From the point of the individual veteran the Post (or the local organization) is where the rubber hits the road. If you have an active, working post you may have any of a dozen or more efforts ongoing that focus on veterans, their families and then the local community. Most local organizations utilize a Service Officer that is trained to VA minimum standards updated annually to help veterans, families and survivors obtain the legally mandates benefits from the VA, etc. If you have a well-trained, experienced and motivated Service Officer the rest of the events of the local organization will usually be successful and vibrant. There rests the problem and the solution.... the Post Service Officer can't "brag" about what they do - because it involves the personal lives of other veterans, their families or survivors. BUUUTTTT, those who HAVE been helped by the Service Officer often return the favor - because who DOESN'T want to be part of an organization that takes the time to train and assist someone who helped YOU??? People will volunteer for things because they know the organization has their backs.

However, Service Officers don't do it by themselves. Success always has a thousand hands, that somewhere along the line, helped push things along.

IMO - it's all about personalities. If you have nothing but drunks that just want cheap drinks - you have that stereotypical "smoky bar" with a bunch of crabby old bums that roll in and out, depending on when they have money. I would hazard a guess that those types of Post's will cease to exist eventually - when all the old bastards die off.

There is NO single answer that fits all conditions and situaitions. But there are a few things that make a good VSO standout: (1) Leadership that is willing to roll up their sleeves and walk the walk (2) A focus; whether it's solely a focus on taking care of homeless veterans or a huge focus on TBI, PTS, MTS - it doesn't matter. Pick one thing...and be damned good at it. (3) a properly trained and fully financially backed Service Officer. You can have the most ardent Service Officer in the world - but if he/she is spending hundreds of dollars out of their own pocket for office supplies, etc. you'll find yourself with a Service Officer that's MIA. When it comes to aiding, abetting and making the Service Officer's life a more enjoyable one - a cheap Post will find themselves with a bad reputation and a missing Service Officer. Take care of that Service Officer and you will reap the rewards. Don't get me wrong - you don't need to PAY the Service Officer (most VSO's don't). The great majority of the Service officers do it because they want to help others.

Notice....there's not one mention of a particular group.....you could pick a name and it'd be the same.

Response by PV2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 25 at 2015 10:41 PM

PV2 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 25 Jan 2015 22:41:55 -0500

I know first hand of how the American Legion is helping vets. I also know that Project Sanctuary does and has helped members of RP. I have heard good things about Wounded Warrior and Segs4Vets too. Thank you for this thread

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Jan 26 at 2015 5:37 PM

CPT Jack Durish — Mon, 26 Jan 2015 17:37:51 -0500

Veterans organizations are precisely as good or as bad, as useful or as worthless, as veterans make them. (Sort of sounds like the relationship between America and its citizens, doesn't it?)

Some are drinking parties.

Some are beehives of activity, providing services to veterans and their families.

Why don't you join and see what you can make of them?

Response by 1SG David Niles made Jan 27 at 2015 7:42 PM

1SG David Niles — Tue, 27 Jan 2015 19:42:12 -0500

Let me define my question a little more, what specific organizations do you know about where the money donated goes directly to helping veterans, what organizations do you know about where the money goes to support the administration of the organization rather then the veteran>

Response by PO1 Glenn Boucher made Nov 4 at 2015 4:29 PM

PO1 Glenn Boucher — Wed, 04 Nov 2015 16:29:35 -0500

I get all of those letters, emails and phone calls every week. The most annoying one was from DAV (Disabled American Veterans) who somehow knew I had a disability rating and they called asking if I was working on upgrading my claim. I told them that yes in fact I am working on a dispute about the start date of one of my service connected disabilities. The guy told me that the DAV could represent me for free if I don't win my appeal and if I win my appeal then a small fee will be collected by DAV. I told the guy that I was doing good using the local VA representative because she is a very good at helping to write the appeal and follows up. This guy told me "with the DAV on your side your guaranteed to win" I told him thank you but I will stick with the VA rep who has been very helpful and the then said well if you are not interested in winning your appeal and you trust them to help you then good luck". If I wasn't fully convinced that DAV isn't really interested in helping then that phone call did the job.
Even Wounded Warrior Project, they keep sending emails and cards asking for a donation of $50.00 or more for a "free Christmas ornament", come on $50.00 for an ornament?
Its hard to not see these organizations as money making business that don't really want to help.