Legion Buddy Check calls to veterans and members are to be conducted during the Legion’s birthday in March and the week of Veterans Day, but posts conduct them throughout the year.
The American Legion’s Buddy Check Toolkit has been updated to give Legion Family members the tools to make contact with veterans, engage in coversation, assess needs and provide assistance. Download the new Buddy Check Toolkit at legion.org/buddycheck.
The new Buddy Check Toolkit features:
- How to organize a Buddy Check
- Revised scripts for Legionnaires, non-members and expired members
- Steps to access rosters for current and expired post members
- Ways to support a veteran with a mental health crisis
- Best practices from posts
- Sample phone call spreadsheet to keep track of contacts made and needs
- Door hanger to leave behind when a veteran is not home
- Quick guide to what The American Legion does at the national, depratment and post level
- Sample media advisory and press release
Since The American Legion’s Buddy Check program launched in 2019, more than 2.1 million veterans have been reached by phone, text, email or in person to check on their well-being and any needs they may have. The National Executive Committee passed Resolution No. 18 that calls for Buddy Checks to be conducted Legion-wide during the weeks of The American Legion’s birthday, March 15, and Veterans Day, Nov. 11. The success of the Buddy Check program has shown it does not have to be restricted to the two weeks suggested within the resolution as many Legion posts conduct them weekly, monthly or quarterly.
Share how your American Legion Family members are reaching out to members and veterans this week, or anytime, by submitting photos and your story at legiontown.org under the category Buddy Checks.
- Buddy Check