One way our site stands out from the competition is by allocating a percentage of each purchase to a worthy charity. To that end, Dealmazing donates proceeds to the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), an organization that supports military members wounded in service.
As of this past year, more than 180,000 individuals were registered with the WWP, including alumni, family members and caregivers. “Every month in 2020, more than 1,350 warriors and family members registered with Wounded Warrior Project to receive our free programs and services,” according to the organization.
How Dealmazing Supports the Wounded Warrior Project
The WWP takes a multi-pronged approach to helping America’s wounded military veterans and their families. More than 70% of funds donated to the organization goes toward programming. So when you purchase a product through Dealmazing, you know that a portion goes to support actual warriors — very little goes to administration costs.
The WWP has its own slate of programs that directly help warriors and their families. Alumnus (what WWP calls those who earned their membership on the battlefield) can get mental health counseling and peer support; weight and nutrition coaching; financial and employment coaching, plus assistance transitioning back into civilian life.
But there are also more than two dozen organizations that the WWP partners with. There are groups that research military issues and lobby politicians to vote for legislation that supports veterans and their families. Other organizations help veterans suffering from post traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) by matching them with canine companions who are trained to provide emotional support.
Here are some of the partners the Wounded Warrior Project is allied with right now.
PTSD is Ruff
Canine Companions matches military veterans with support dogs.
Last March, Government Executive, a news daily for federal government workers, reported that when traditional PTSD treatments have failed to offer relief to suffering veterans, service dogs have been very successful. Uniquely trained canines help wounded veterans feel more calm and less depressed and anxious. As a result, individuals diagnosed with PTSD miss work less often and are better partners and family members. Specifically, when someone starts to have a panic attack, the dog can nudge the owner and stop the attack from advancing.
Other canine support organizations
The WWP is also affiliated with Warrior Canine Connection. If you have a family member or friend who loves dogs and has been diagnosed with service-related PTSD, contact one of these organizations to get more information.
Support Military Kids
The Comfort Crew provides support to kids who have a family member in the military.
April is Month of the Military Child and from the 18th to 24th, military communities all over the world will wear purple to show unity and thank children for their strength. According to the Army, purple symbolizes all branches of the military. “It’s a combination of Army green, Marine red.” So be sure to snap pics of your family and post them on social media using #PurpleUp21.
Parents can go to MilitaryOneSource.com to see events scheduled throughout the month and also get free Military Child Appreciation Kits.
Other organizations for military kids
Organizations like Military Child Education Coalition, Military Family Advisory Network, Our Military Kids and Travis Manion Foundation also have events for and support children of military members.
Transition Assistance for Veterans
The Commit Foundation helps service members and veterans achieve personal and professional purpose after completing military service.
This month, a bipartisan group of senators reintroduced legislation that bolsters Solid Start. The program was launched by the Department of Veterans Affairs in 2019 and is designed to contact every veteran three times within the first year of leaving active duty and help them navigate state and local benefits. New language in the bill improves assistance provided to female vets. And for vets who haven’t responded to telephone calls, the bill also requires the VA to reach out to them by other means, such as mail and email.
Other organizations that help veterans reintegrate
Charities like Team RWB, U.S. Vets, and Vail Veterans Program work with veterans to get job training and cope with issues that interfere with their transition back into civilian life.
Healing Catastrophic Injuries
The Eisenhower Center provides neurological rehabilitation and other treatment programs to veterans.
According to the Family Caregiver Alliance, “Studies show that caregivers of people who have suffered a brain injury may experience feelings of burden, distress, anxiety, anger, and depression.” When caregivers suffer, then patients’ ability to heal and progress is delayed.
Other organizations that serve the medical needs of wounded veterans
Operation Healing Forces helps wounded service members receive emotional and physical support. While recuperating from an injury, the Yellow Ribbon Fund helps veterans and their families stay together.
Job Training
Dog Tag Inc. is an organization that helps veterans and military families find employment and lead productive lives.
Organizations like Hiring Our Heroes are crucial right now. Stars and Stripes reports that 40% of military spouses reported losing their job during the pandemic. Even more had to reduce their work hours so they could care for kids at home. This population “already faced an unemployment rate six times higher than the national average,” according to reporter Rose Thayer.
Other organizations that provide job training and leads
Veterans and their families can reach out to Farmer Veteran Coalition to learn about careers in agriculture. The Institute for Veterans and Military Families provides career training opportunities. The Honor Foundation is a career transition program that connects those who served in the U.S. Special Operations Forces to private sector jobs. And The Mission Continues sends veterans to underserved communities where they can volunteer alongside nonprofit partners in education, food insecurity, and neighborhood improvement organizations.
Promote Veteran Well-being
The Elizabeth Dole Foundation was launched in 2012 by Senator Elizabeth Dole. The mission of the organization is to raise the public’s awareness about challenges experienced by veterans and advocate for their well-being.
The Foundation conducts research that provides veterans and their caregivers support at the local, state, and national levels.
Organizations that study veterans issues
The Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving advocates for public policies that support caregivers. The Institute is not limited to veteran caregivers and receivers, but they make up a large number of the individuals the Carter Institute advocates for.
Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, https://www.rosalynncarter.org/
Homes for Veterans
Five Star Veterans Center helps guide homeless veterans off the streets and into independent living.
According to Five Star Veterans Center, “In America 1.4 million veterans are at risk of becoming homeless.” So this month, Denis McDonough, the secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, asked Congress to increase funding by nearly 4.5% for homelessness prevention programs, according to Military.com.
Where else can veterans get housing assistance
Homes For Our Troops is an organization that, at no cost to recipients, builds specially-adapted custom homes for injured veterans.
How Dealmazing Hopes to Help
Dealmazing is committed to supporting all veterans, not just those wounded in service. But at the same time, we realize that it’s on us all to make a difference. We just hope that the small contribution we make to veteran’s organizations will bring a little bit of hope and serenity to someone’s life.
