USA Cares - Veteran and Military Family Assistance

Our Mission Statement

USA Cares exists to help bear the burdens of service by providing post-9/11 military families with financial and advocacy support in their time of need.

Our History:

USA Cares is committed to its mission to provide financial and advocacy assistance to post-9/11 active duty U.S. military service personnel, veterans and their families. USA Cares was launched through a grassroots partnership between the management of WAVE-3 TV (NBC) in Louisville, Kentucky; Kroger Food Stores – Mid-South Division; and the Fort Knox Chapter of the Association of the United States Army. The organization was dubbed Kentuckiana Cares with a goal to raise funds to help military families in financial crisis through the sale of “Support Our Troops” yard signs. While $121,000 was raised, the need for assistance proved to be greater than the original initiative could meet. However, we could not quit on our nation’s heroes or their families. In October 2003, a new 501(c)(3), national organization now known as USA Cares was created with a toll-free call center to process the increasing number of requests for assistance.

Our Goal:

Our goal is to help restore financial stability and self-sufficiency by giving “a hand up.” We strive to reach families at the earliest stage of intervention to prevent further financial distress and suffering, especially for the combat injured and their families.

Operational Philosophy:

USA Cares takes a “holistic” approach to helping our military service members, veterans and their families. Services are free; and applications for assistance are accepted 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The goal is to make contact within two business days with an eligibility determination. Needs are verified through required documentation. Financial assistance is not given directly to service members or their families; instead, payments are made to mortgage lenders, utility companies, and other vendors. Each family approved for assistance is assigned an advocate from our Family Resource Center who assures that assistance is timely and effective. These advocates often mobilize additional support for families from other military assistance groups, and the service member’s community of local organizations.
MAJ Ken Landgren SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" SSgt Obom Bowen CPT (Join to see) LTC Stephen F. SSG Warren Swan PO2 Ed C. SGM David W. Carr LOM, DMSM MP SGT SSgt (Join to see) CPT L SSP5 Michael Rathbun CW5 (Join to see) CW5 Charlie Poulton SMSgt Minister Gerald A. Thomas SGM Mikel Dawson CSM Charles Hayden Passed 7/29/2025 SGT Benjamin Lindsey SPC Andrew Griffin d SN Greg Wright TSgt Hunter Logan