Saturday, March 11, 2017

How Vietnam Vets Donation Has Impacted The Lives Of So Many

By Christine Parker


It seems strange today to think there was a time when soldiers returning from a war zone were treated with contempt and protests. They were jeered at public rallies and confronted on the streets if they appeared in uniform. Many who returned from the war in Southeast Asia came back with drug habits and mental problems. There are those who still struggle, and need the help a Vietnam vets donation can make.

Many organizations that aid veterans depend on donations for survival. A lot of their staff members are volunteers or work for low wages. They believe it is important to help as many veterans as they can. Some service people, wounded in combat, require multiple surgeries and complicated and costly rehabilitation. They may not be employable for months or years. This can cause hardships for the loved ones who care for them.

Post-traumatic stress disorder is a serious mental condition most people were unfamiliar with before the veterans of the war in Southeast Asia began to complain of the symptoms. Not only have they experienced the effects of this disorder, many were also exposed to agent orange and have had to live with its deadly aftermath. Suicide is an unfortunate result of life after combat for some. The percentage of veterans who commit suicide is alarming, and there are nonprofits that use the donations provided to work tirelessly to reduce these numbers.

Understanding what benefits they are entitled to and how to go about getting them, is very confusing for a lot of veterans. One of the things donations help nonprofits do is to make sure benefit paperwork is filled out correctly and goes to the right agency, so the veteran can begin to receive assistance as soon as possible. They keep up with the legislation going through Congress that will affect soldiers and contact representatives on these veterans' behalf.

Some young people join the military right out of high school. This may be the only job experience they have ever had. Many need help getting civilian jobs when they leave their branch of service. Donations to organizations make it possible for them to get help with resumes, interview coaching, career consulting, and even appropriate business dress. Some of the veterans decide to return to school and study for advanced degrees. They need to know how to get the financial aid necessary to achieve this.

Whenever Congress has a bill regarding the rights of veterans under consideration, donations make it possible for representatives from veterans' organizations to make their voices heard. Getting them the benefits they deserve is uppermost in the minds of these advocates.

Isolation and depression are big problems for some veterans trying to reenter the civilian world. Donations to nonprofits make it possible for them to connect with other soldiers, sometimes veterans of other wars, who can relate to the issues and struggles they have. These outreach programs are a vital part of the work nonprofits do.

Whether they chose to enlist or were drafted, these brave men and women have earned the right to good healthcare, education, and jobs. They have gone into areas many people would never consider going, and most would willingly go again.




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