Post by Beeps (WOT?*) on May 23, 2012 18:33:29 GMT -5
I'm a very former military wife, who was married to a servicemember (USN) disabled while we were married. He's been through hellandback since then health-wise. We were homeless (with three kids and a fourth on the way) when he was first disabled and spent about three years fighting the VA to get his proper disability rating. Since then we've divorced and gone on our separate ways but still remain in contact and get along well enough (when his wife isn't around. She despises the ground I slither on and my H thinks ex is "a nice enough guy to drink with but we'll never be best friends and his wife is (unprintable - lol).")
We've both had some ups-and-downs (particularly him. He's had other health scares and is in fairly poor health now but financially he's finally stable) but life in general is good for us all now. His wife suits him better than I ever would (she's good for him, more so than I ever was) and my husband suits (and properly adores) me better than the ex ever could. (Oh, and my older DD is dating a Navy LT from a career AF family who is going on deployment next month so this will be her first experience and their "training ground." I was actually pregnant with her when ex was on his first and he didn't meet her until she was six months old.)
That being said, I have a LOT of respect for the military. I'm currently not working and have some time on my hands. A former co-worker in another state is very active in AmVets and I was less so primarily in her wake. My ex was at a golf outing in support of the USO yesterday, his firm was active with the Wounded Warriors program and provided bicycles for a program at Camp Pendleton (and we had an AWESOME company picnic there last summer so thank you Marines who attended and helped organize it) and I support to a very limited degree the Fischer House here in Seattle (and am looking to step it up.) We are centrally located between a number of bases but all are at least 1-1.5 hours travel (McChord/Ft. Lewis to the south, Bremerton to the the East, Whidbey Island to the north but all at 1.5 hours travel). I have closest ties to W.I. and the Naval Air Station as my kids live there or near there (as does ex) and we were stationed there. I've been more supportive of groups like the Salvation Army and food banks (they were there to support us while we battled with the VA and Navy over his disability for three years so I've felt very beholden to them.) Madigan Hospital is about 1.5 hours south and I'd like to volunteer some time there but can't see making the trip regularly.
My support has been mostly financial rather than time. I'd like to change/reverse this trend. With this in mind how would you (and how would you suggest I) step up to help out any of the above organizations? Or feel free to suggest others.
Post by iluvmytxrgr on May 23, 2012 18:44:12 GMT -5
I would suggest the USO. They can always use help and they are a great organization that does so much for service members and their families. There are many, many ways to volunteer with them. You can do anything from packing care packages to volunteering at any of their canteens. If you are interested in the Fisher House, they always need volunteers to help clean up, cook and work fund raisers.