A "Craigslist" for Veterans

As the Director for Veteran Relations, I see the many requests that our team receives from our warriors that are out of our charter or areas of expertise, and we definitely must rely on other Veteran Service Organizations to help facilitate these needs.

This morning, I met with Dave Mahler of USATogether and discussed how we could help each other by connecting veterans and donors without the tedious internet searches it often requires for veterans to find assistance. Aside from the generosity Dave and his organization brings to the table, (an all volunteer effort), one of the most fascinating things about USATogether is  that regardless of what  the need is or where you are in the country, USATogether is there and has the ability to help veterans and active duty folks through some of their hardships.

This is done by connecting people who want to help our nation’s warriors essentially through a tool similar to Craigslist. As a veteran myself, I would have loved something like this while I was going through my transition and it certainly would’ve helped out with some of the many roadblocks we often face as veterans. USATogether would like to see more organizations working together in connecting the dots, as it is, it seems like a scavenger hunt just to find out what our benefits and entitlements are, let alone trying to search for assistance. 

Dave also mentioned that on any given day, you won’t see a lot of requests for help on the USA Together Web-site, there are so many donors out there ready to help injured and wounded service members and their families, that requests are fulfilled quickly. Some of the assistance and services that have been met include:  auto repairs, utility assistance, new furniture, housing upgrades, service dogs, legal advice, etc.

If you are a veteran and or active duty service member in need or know someone that may need assistance, please check out www.USATogether.org.
- Michelle Saunders, Director, Veteran Relations, HHUSA