Veterans & Family Support Program - The Heart of Our Organization
Since 1914, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary has stood beside America’s heroes and their families. Veterans, service members, and their loved ones often face unexpected challenges — and the VFW Auxiliary Department of Alaska is here to help.
The Veterans & Family Support Program is the heart of our organization, representing our deepest commitment: to serve those who served. Through compassion, connection, and practical assistance, we provide vital support when it’s needed most.
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Our Mission
This program offers direct and indirect assistance to veterans, active-duty military, and their families. We connect them to trusted resources, promote awareness of critical issues like suicide prevention, and support programs that meet real needs at every stage of military and civilian life.
We believe that standing with veterans and their families is not just part of what we do — it’s who we are.
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Key Program Focus Areas
1. Support for Veterans, Service Members & Families
Our Veterans & Family Support Resource Card lists 20 trusted organizations that provide housing, counseling, employment, and emergency assistance to veterans and military families.
We work to ensure that no veteran or family in Alaska faces hardship alone.
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2. Suicide Awareness & Prevention
Each day, approximately 20 veterans die by suicide. The VFW Auxiliary is committed to reducing this number by educating communities, identifying warning signs, and breaking the silence around mental health.
The Blue Teardrop Sticker is our symbol for Veteran and Military Suicide Awareness.
Wear it to start a conversation — and when asked, share that it represents our commitment to saving lives.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, contact the Veterans Crisis Line:
•Call: 1-800-273-8255 and press 1
•Text: 838255
•Chat: VeteransCrisisLine.net
Support is free, confidential, and available 24/7.
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3. VFW’s National Veterans Service (NVS)
The VFW National Veterans Service (NVS) helps veterans and their families obtain the benefits they have earned — free of charge.
With more than 2,000 VA-accredited VFW Service Officers around the world, NVS assists with:
•Disability compensation
•GI Bill and education benefits
•Rehabilitation and training programs
•Pension and survivor benefits
•Employment and transition assistance
Every year, these dedicated service officers help secure billions of dollars in benefits for veterans and their families.
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4. VFW’s Veterans & Military Support Programs
These national programs help active-duty and recently discharged service members transition successfully to civilian life.
• Sport Clips Help-A-Hero Scholarship
Provides scholarships up to $5,000 to help service members and veterans complete their education without taking on heavy student loan debt.
• Unmet Needs
Offers grants (not loans) up to $1,500 to assist with essential expenses such as rent, utilities, and food. Payments are made directly to creditors to reduce stress for the recipient.
Eligibility includes:
•Active-duty service members with hardships from deployment, pay issues, or medical discharge
•Veterans discharged on or after September 11, 2001, facing hardship due to service-connected injuries or illnesses
•Veterans discharged before 9/11 who live on fixed incomes, including VA compensation, and experience unexpected financial crises
• Military Assistance Program (MAP)
Provides financial aid to VFW Posts and Auxiliaries to host troop send-offs, homecomings, and community events. MAP also supports Adopt-A-Unit and Family Readiness Groups, ensuring that service members and their families feel the support of their Alaska community.
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Standing Together for Alaska’s Heroes
The Veterans & Family Support Program is more than a mission — it is the heartbeat of the VFW Auxiliary Department of Alaska.
Through this program, we extend the hand of friendship, the power of community, and the enduring promise that no veteran or military family will ever stand alone.
