With the help of corporate sponsors like Vermont American, the VFW Foundation has received the funding necessary to establish the Unmet Needs Program. Since 2003, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, through the VFW Foundation, has provided millions of dollars of support to Americans serving in harm's way. As this risk continues abroad and here at home, financial demands on the families of those serving continue to grow. Helping ease the burden of our military families in need is the mission of the VFW Unmet Needs Program.
Why There's a Need
According to the Department of Defense, our country has over 700,000 military spouses across the services--93% of them women. Nearly half of those are married to enlisted members who make less than $20,000 a year in basic pay. When Reservists are included, these average yearly pay amounts reach alarming lows.
How Donations Help
Donations will go a long way toward helping Unmet Needs Program families with some of these common but critical expenses:
- Infant formula
- Medical fees
- Prescriptions
- Eyeglasses
- Prostheses
- Groceries
- Toiletries
- Diapers
- Vehicle repair and maintenance
- Transportation expenses
- Home repair
- Appliance repair
- Rent
- Mortgage assistance
How The Program Reaches Families In Need
For those military families in need, the VFW Foundation provides several easy ways to apply for help:
- Online and downloadable applications at www.unmetneeds.com
- Toll-free direct phone assistance at 1-866-789-NEED (1-866-789-6333), the national headquarters of the VFW Foundation
Once the military family completes the initial application, the VFW Foundation will contact the family, and then an Unmet Needs Program representative will personally review the need and process the application. If the application is approved, funds will be immediately sent to the family.