3 Ways to Show Your Support this Memorial Day
Memorial Day may mean a
day off of work and an excuse to get out the grill, but if you are taking the
time to celebrate Memorial Day, it’s important that you don’t forget to
celebrate the soldiers who should be honored. Here are some fun and easy ways
to make sure that you are giving back to soldiers in your community this
Memorial Day.
day off of work and an excuse to get out the grill, but if you are taking the
time to celebrate Memorial Day, it’s important that you don’t forget to
celebrate the soldiers who should be honored. Here are some fun and easy ways
to make sure that you are giving back to soldiers in your community this
Memorial Day.
Use Your BBQ as a
Charity Event
Charity Event
If you are planning a
cookout, potluck, or BBQ for Memorial Day, make it an excuse to raise awareness
for soldiers’ causes and to raise money for donation. Here are a few ideas for
organizations that collect for soldiers and their families:
cookout, potluck, or BBQ for Memorial Day, make it an excuse to raise awareness
for soldiers’ causes and to raise money for donation. Here are a few ideas for
organizations that collect for soldiers and their families:
- www.homesforourtroops.org. This organization works to build and restore homes
for veterans and their families. According to the Annual Homeless
Assessment Report, on any given night in 2013, there were 57,849 veterans
living on the streets. Securing and keeping housing proves to be a huge
challenge for many soldiers returning home from duty, - www.operationhomefront.net. Collects money for families of deployed soldiers to
help them pay for necessary items like vehicles, clothing, and housing. - www.fisherhouse.org/programs/hero-miles. Donate Frequent Flyer Miles to soldiers so they can
visit their families during their R&R periods.
Raise money by setting
up collection bowls around the party: on the buffet table, by the couches, even
in the restroom. Post explanatory signs about the cause you are supporting and maybe even print
photos and stories of families
who have been helped by those causes. Other ideas might include:
up collection bowls around the party: on the buffet table, by the couches, even
in the restroom. Post explanatory signs about the cause you are supporting and maybe even print
photos and stories of families
who have been helped by those causes. Other ideas might include:
- Ask friends with local
businesses to donate their goods or services for a raffle. For example, if
your neighbor is a baker, she could donate a cake to be raffled. If your
friend is an artist, maybe he could donate a painting for the raffle. Hold
a silent auction with proceeds for your cause. - Set up money raising games for
those who want to participate. For example, you could stage a poker match
with all proceeds for the charity.
Organize an Event to
Benefit Soldiers in Your Community
Benefit Soldiers in Your Community
If you would like to do
something a bit more personal this Memorial Day, organize your friends and
family to participate in an activity to benefit the soldiers and veterans in your
community. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
something a bit more personal this Memorial Day, organize your friends and
family to participate in an activity to benefit the soldiers and veterans in your
community. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Give your time at a local
veteran’s home or a home that caters largely to a veteran and soldier
community. Pick up trash on their street, perform repairs around the house,
offer to bring over baked goods or a casserole,
or just organize your family and friends to pay a visit to socialize. You
can put on a fun event like a little concert with some local kids or if
you have a particular skill, you could teach an art class or yoga class
for free for the veterans. To get into the spirit of Memorial Day and keep
the event fun and silly, have your volunteers dress up in fun clothes like an American Flag Tank Top or flag shorts for the day. - If you have veterans or families of deployed soldiers in
your neighborhood, pay extra special attention to their needs on Memorial
Day. If you know that they are in need or have been going through any hard
times lately, organize a collection in the neighborhood to help them with
their expenses or offer to give them a hand with things like home or car repair. They’re also likely to appreciate a social call if you
just want to swing by to thank them for their service! Come over with a
baked good and coffee to brighten up their day or invite them to your
cookout. Even if you do not know these neighbors well, they are likely to
appreciate your consideration on Memorial Day!
Arrange for a Public
Memorial
Memorial
Try to get permission to
organize a memorial event at the park or a local school. You could organize a
baseball game as a fundraising event for a cause at the elementary school, or
you could set up a temporary installation in the park like a memorial wall for
fallen soldiers. Of course, for something like this, you will need to plan
ahead and get approval and cooperation from the school or park administrators.
organize a memorial event at the park or a local school. You could organize a
baseball game as a fundraising event for a cause at the elementary school, or
you could set up a temporary installation in the park like a memorial wall for
fallen soldiers. Of course, for something like this, you will need to plan
ahead and get approval and cooperation from the school or park administrators.
If you can’t get
permission or you don’t have time to coordinate such a large project, turn your
house into a makeshift memorial. Decorate your fence or trees with yellow
ribbons. Collect wreaths or flowers for your front porch or front gate as a
memorial. Plant a garden in their honor. Print out and post pictures of soldiers who have passed away,
especially if they are from your local community. Hang flags from your windows
and hang paper stars from your tree or roof overhang.
permission or you don’t have time to coordinate such a large project, turn your
house into a makeshift memorial. Decorate your fence or trees with yellow
ribbons. Collect wreaths or flowers for your front porch or front gate as a
memorial. Plant a garden in their honor. Print out and post pictures of soldiers who have passed away,
especially if they are from your local community. Hang flags from your windows
and hang paper stars from your tree or roof overhang.
Memorialize Every Day!
Use Memorial Day to raise awareness about the reality of the situations for veterans and their families all over the country. Now, make it a regular part of your week to give back to your local veterans, national veterans’ causes, and to give aid where aid is needed throughout the year!
Use Memorial Day to raise awareness about the reality of the situations for veterans and their families all over the country. Now, make it a regular part of your week to give back to your local veterans, national veterans’ causes, and to give aid where aid is needed throughout the year!
How do you plan on spending your Memorial Day?
I am married to a Vet, so I thank him all the time 🙂
We don't have any Memorial Day plans as of now, but these are excellent ideas. It's always great to show support!
I love the idea of hosting a collection event at a family get-together. We always get together for a bbq of some sort Memorial Day weekend and it would be even better to help support our vets with a "charity event" aspect to it!
These are great! I'm in Canada, but these could most definitely apply for our holiday too! I love giving time at a veteran home. That's lovely. Both my grandparents were vets so veterans are dear to me even more! – jeanine
We are having a BarBQ and I didnt think to use it as a way to raise money. I am going to have the kids activity be to decorate boxes then pass them around for the adults to dontate money. It will be a great opportunity for everyone there!
What a great article. Memorial Day is about the ultimate sacrifice not BBQ's
What great ideas. It's important to celebrate the reason for the holliday
I love all your ideas! What a great and important post! Nice photos! Super job!
Your ideas are awesome! My son just joined the Navy and sure wish I could spend Memorial Day with him!
These could be some cool ideas for Memorial day. I'll be having a BBQ!
We are helping at the local VFW with a dinner.
I like the idea of using a Bar B q or event to create events. Quite often theses days are so commercialized that people forget the meaning behind it
These are some good ideas. I especially like the idea of turning a BBQ into a fundraiser for veteran's groups.
These are great ideas. It's always a good time to show support for those lost in war.
These are such great ideas. We shouldn't forget the meaning behind Memorial Day.
I love the idea of raising awareness through a cookout. Who wouldn't want to donate and enjoy good food? Such a great idea.
I love the idea of raising awareness through a cookout. Who wouldn't want to donate and enjoy good food? Such a great idea.
I love the idea of raising awareness through a cookout. Who wouldn't want to donate and enjoy good food? Such a great idea.
This is so SO important! I love these ideas, and we need to remember to thank our Veterans! May they never be forgotten.
These are all great ideas. I need to do something like this with our children so that they have an understanding. I think we will hang up a bunch of flags in our front yard.
I love the idea of planting a garden in their honor. I love that there is Memorial Day. They deserve to be honored.
I love your suggestions here! So many people forget what this holiday is really about.
I haven't made plans yet for Memorial Day, but any of these are just wonderful. I love the idea of planning a memorial event.
We are having a low key memorial day. Love the idea of charity grilling
This Memorial Day weekend I am working the ER department both Sat & Sun then on Monday we are attending our local Memorial Service at the VA Center in our area.
Fantastic idea. Love the bbq meal for our Heroes.