3 Ways You Can Help Support West Virginia’s Veterans

We often see veterans in their uniforms and army rank insignia pins during Veterans or Memorial day, but what do we actually do to support them? We owe them so much! With these three simple acts, you can support West Virginia veterans and give back to the people who protected us.

3 West Virginia schools in Lewis County have received the Purple Star Award, an award given to schools that have shown commitment to supporting military children and families.

Through activities like holding a toiletry drive for homeless veterans and writing letters to veterans in the WV Veterans Nursing Facility in Harrison County, students are supporting the community in a range of different ways. For individuals in the community who would also like to make a positive difference in the lives of West Virginian veterans, here are just a few different ways one can help.

Volunteering at a VA health clinic

For those looking to regularly volunteer their time helping veterans in the local community, applying to volunteer at a VA health clinic is a great place to start. VA Clarksburg Health Care is just one example where you can volunteer, and there are many different roles that can be filled. From assisting in transporting patients and lab specimens within the medical facility through an escort role to working at the front desk answering phones and greeting patients, there are a variety of ways one can help. 

Working within the Volunteer Transportation Network, or VTN, is another great way to volunteer at the Clarksburg location as well. Responsible for picking up patients from their home and driving them to their appointments at the medical facility safely and on time, volunteers in this position would also need to wait for the patient and drive them home as well.

However, it’s important to keep in mind that this position has additional requirements, such as having a valid driver’s license and proof of auto insurance in addition to passing a physical and taking a TB test.

Providing information on valuable financial resources 

If you have a veteran in your life who needs financial assistance — such as when it comes to buying a house or refinancing an existing mortgage, then providing them with information on valuable resources that they may not know about is a great way to help.

Compensation, for example, can be calculated through a VA disability calculator. This will help to determine the compensation they’re owed, so you can check they’re definitely getting the right amount. Meanwhile, a VA loan is a mortgage option offered by private lenders that is partially backed or guaranteed by the Department of Veteran Affairs, allowing for no down payment while still receiving some of the lowest interest rates out there.

A VA loan, for example, is a mortgage option offered by private lenders that is partially backed or guaranteed by the Department of Veteran Affairs, allowing for no down payment while still receiving some of the lowest interest rates out there.

Through platforms like Hero Loan, veterans have the ability to apply in minutes, talk to a loan officer about their options, and close in as little as 14 days. By providing such information to veterans via word of mouth or social platforms, you can help spread awareness to those in need of such an option.

Helping veterans find employment 

Unfortunately, finding employment is often a major challenge for many veterans, for reasons such as a mismatch of skills, culture gaps between military and civilian lifestyles, employer discrimination, and more. However, you can help support veterans around the country in finding the right job for them at MGNREGA Work List.

By filling out a volunteer application, you’ll be able to aid veterans (in addition to active members and military spouses) secure employment by helping in various ways, like conducting mock interviews, offering industry expertise, or through online or phone counseling. What’s more is that this can be done right from home, allowing you to help in a majorly convenient way. 

For those looking to help support veterans in West Virginia, there are a number of options out there worth looking into. From providing information by word of mouth, volunteering your time at a VA health clinic or even via innovative programs that help veterans secure employment, there are several ways one can make a difference.