Red Cross supports veterans with critical services

The American Red Cross recognizes veterans and offers support to them, both on Veterans Day and every day, the organization said, in commemoration of Veterans Day.
“The Red Cross has supported those in uniform since the founding of our organization more than 135 years ago,” said Neela Mukherjee Lockel, interim CEO of the Maine Region of the American Red Cross. “Today, we serve our nation’s military, veterans and their families through our Red Cross Hero Care Network, enabling us to provide critical services to this community across the country and around the world.”
Military members, veterans and their families can access these Red Cross services by downloading the free Red Cross Hero Care App on any Apple or Android device. The Hero Care Network offers confidential services to all veterans and their families by connecting them with local, state and national resources worldwide.
The Red Cross supports the members of the military community from the time a service member takes the oath, through active duty, to their transition to back to civilian life. Red Cross chapters maintain relationships with key partners in their region and can connect veterans and their families with them to get the help they need. These vital services include responding to emergency needs for food, clothing, and shelter, referrals to counseling services, and information on veterans’ cemeteries and burial benefits.
The Red Cross Military Veteran Caregiver Network is also available for veterans and their caregivers to offer support for the country’s approximately 5.5 million caregivers of military and veteran wounded, ill or injured.
RECONNECTION WORKSHOPS Transitioning to military and veteran service can be hard, and Red Cross Reconnection Workshops aim to ease the stress that comes with these changes. In the last year alone, the Red Cross provided our resiliency program to some 30,000 heroes in the veteran and military family community across the country. This free, confidential program offers effective ways to work through challenges, improve wellbeing and build skills through small-group discussion and hands-on activities. As well, Reconnection Workshops help improve connections at home, at work and within communities.
WHAT YOU CAN DO Many Red Cross volunteers are veterans who continue to support their communities after their active duty service ends. Also, about 6 percent of Red Cross employees include transitioning military or veterans – from nurses to logisticians, emergency management experts, project managers and preparedness experts, as well as a number of veterans in leadership roles at local Red Cross chapters across the country.
Tens of thousands of Red Cross volunteers also serve in Veterans Administration and military hospitals across the nation and around the world. These volunteers support such areas as rehabilitation, recreation, administration, and personal services to the men and women who are now cared for each day in these facilities. To learn more about giving back in your community, redcross.org/volunteer.