OCW grants: over $360,000 help servicemembers, veterans 
Photo by Hilary Ott/The American Legion

OCW grants: over $360,000 help servicemembers, veterans 

In 2022, The American Legion’s Operation Comfort Warriors (OCW) program provided 62 grants totaling $363,349. OCW supports servicemembers and veterans recovering from wounds and illnesses with items to aid in their rehabilitation that are not normally provided by the federal government. OCW grants have helped wounded warriors and veterans in their recovery with fitness equipment, sports therapy equipment, electronic devices, clothing, games, art supplies and more. 

Of the OCW grants issued in 2022, 38 went to servicemembers, 10 to American Legion posts/districts, nine to veteran-related events and five to VA medical facilities. A few grants include:

- $29,500 worth of gaming equipment to help the nonprofit Stack Up update Joint Base Lewis-McChord’s Warrior Zone that includes a gaming area for servicemembers. 

- a paddle board to help injured Afghanistan veteran James Gafney stay active and healthy. “I can’t thank this (American Legion OCW) program enough. I think it’s a great program to help a lot of veterans,” he said. 

- $4,950 to provide food and drinks for those attending an Indianapolis screening of Irreverent Warriors’ movie “The Hike Back Film.” Irreverent Warriors provides a community for veterans across the nation through local therapeutic events, as well as works with other veteran organizations who provide services such as job placement, training, housing, service dogs and more.

- $10,000 grant to provide meals to those who attended the the 2022 Team River Runner (TTR) Adaptive Paddling Conference, which provides classroom and hands-on training to assist disabled veterans through TRR programs.

Learn more about how to apply for an OCW grant or donate to the program at legion.org/ocw. One hundred percent of donations go toward grants. 


Operation Comfort Warriors

Operation Comfort Warriors

This program provides comfort items for wounded, injured or ill military personnel. All donations to this fund go directly towards the purchase of these comfort items.

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