Hometown Hero Donates $60,000 to the Texas VFW

In 1899, in the wake of the Spanish-American and Philippine-American wars, many veterans of these conflicts came home wounded or sick, with no pension or medical care available. Essentially, they were left to fend for themselves.

United in their hardships, these veterans formed organizations that eventually banded together to fight for their rights and benefits, becoming the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, or "VFW" for short.

From there on, they've pressed to ensure that veterans are respected, always receive their earned entitlements, and are recognized, along with their loved ones, for the sacrifices they made on behalf of this country. Since its founding, the VFW has been a crucial force behind many key initiatives toward helping and honoring American veterans, which have included:

Over the years, the VFW has implemented many programs and services that support veterans, service members, and their families. Here are some of the ways the VFW helps veterans and active service members on an individual basis:

Many veterans find the claims process (requesting benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs) confusing. The VFW's National Veterans Service (NVS) provides a nationwide network of accredited officers and representatives to help veterans navigate the red tape and acquire the benefits they deserve.

The VFW has an Unmet Needs program that offers grants (not loans, which means no repayment is required) of up to $2,500 to help active-duty service members and their families with financial difficulties that may have arisen due to deployment, injury, or other military-related reasons.

To help U.S. veterans acquire a higher education without incurring excessive debt, the VFW offers several grants to eligible applications, such as its Student Veteran Support Grant and the "Sport Clips Help A Hero Scholarship." And just like any grant, these do not have to be repaid. 

Each day, we lose 20 veterans to suicide. The VFW's Mental Wellness campaign works to build partnerships to serve the needs of veterans suffering from invisible injuries, provide training and resources to VFW personnel who provide direct services to veterans, offer opportunities for VFW members to share experiences, and advocate for federal legislation to improve access to mental health care.

From monumental pieces of legislation to one-on-one assistance with obtaining benefits, the core of the VFW's achievements is its members, who are out there doing the groundwork for helping our nation's veterans and active service members.

The $60,000 donation we made on November 4, 2024, will support the Texas VFW by helping them expand by subsidizing the cost of new memberships while converting some existing memberships into lifetime memberships. This way, they can focus more on their advocacy efforts than on maintaining memberships. Plus, the VFW members will have access to resources such as benefits advocacy, mental wellness support, and more.

Since our first day in business, our mission has been to support U.S. veterans, true hometown heroes. Over the years, we've had the privilege of working with the Texas VFW and many other great nonprofit organizations whose work changes and saves lives. Whether you're new to Hometown Hero or have been with us for a while, we thank you for your support, which enables us to donate to such great causes.

To all U.S. veterans, we cannot express enough gratitude for what you gave to our country. At Hometown Hero, you will always be recognized for your sacrifices, struggles, and courage.