The American Legion has supported and actively participated in the Department of Veterans Affairs Voluntary Service (VAVS) program since it began in 1946. Today, nearly 7,000 volunteers serve 900,000 hours annually at various VA medical centers. Read more

Ride to Recovery conducts cycling events across the United States with hundreds of injured troops, celebrities, athletes and elected officials. Legion volunteers assist in coordinating Legion riders, donations, and providing meals or use of post facilities. Read more

Download the "Support our Troops" brochure. Support rallies and yellow-ribbon campaigns give communities an opportunity to express support for troops. News of such efforts provides servicemembers encouragement and inspiration. Legionnaires and all Americans are urged to partner with local organizations, schools, government and the media to coordinate such events.

The Legion can help organize events. Contact the Internal Affairs Division at (317) 630-1321.

Habitat for Humanity is working with The American Legion to identify opportunities for departments, districts and posts to assist in building or supporting military or veterans' housing projects.

Honor Flight helps transport veterans willing and able to visit memorials in Washington, D.C. American Legion volunteers help accompany the veterans to and from the memorials.

Freedom Walks honor family members of victims who died in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Departments, districts and posts volunteers can assist by distributing veteran benefit information at the walks and/or participating as a walker or event volunteer.

The American Legion assists Rebuilding Together by distributing veteran eligibility criterion for program information through the department service officers, districts and posts.

Volunteers comprise about 97 percent of the International Red Cross work force. More than 24,000 volunteers serve as chairmen, on advisory or directors boards for local chapters, Blood Services regions and military stations. Among Red Cross emergency services for servicemembers is the delivery of urgent family messages – one every 22 seconds.

To learn how to become a Red Cross volunteer, call (202) 639-3520 or visit www.redcross.org.

How Can I Donate Blood to the Military?
America's Blood Centers, (888) 872-5663
American Red Cross, (800) 448-3543

Through United We Serve, government can support the momentum of the millions of acts of kindness and decency that are changing America one heart at a time. The United We Serve Network helps individuals find service opportunities that match their interests and talents in their hometowns, across the country and around the world.

To learn more, call (877) 872-2677, or visit www.serve.gov.

United Service Organizations is chartered by Congress as a nonprofit charitable corporation and endorsed by the president and the Department of Defense. USO's mission is to provide welfare, recreation and morale-raising services to U.S. military members.

More than 12,000 members in the USO international corps of volunteers provide an estimated 450,000 hours of service annually. From welcoming home deployed troops to helping entertain soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen, the volunteer contribution in delivering a "Touch of Home" is USO's primary asset.

To learn how to become a USO volunteer, call (202) 610-5700 or visit www.uso.org.

Volunteers provide guidance and training to posts on suicide prevention and connect any veterans with mental health emergencies with the National Suicide Prevention Hotline. (800) 273-8255.

Veterans for Valor offer three main programs to help combat wounded veterans:  Backpacks, Hero Wishes and a night out to provide a unique therapeutic value to the wounded servicemember and his or her family.