Military Appreciation Month is a time to honor the service and sacrifice of our nation’s heroes. Their unwavering dedication to protecting our freedoms deserves not only our gratitude but also comprehensive support and resources.

This month, we want to pause and acknowledge some of the Veteran Service Organizations (VSOs) across the country that are committed to ensuring veterans and their families have access to the tools, programs, and communities that honor their service and empower them to thrive beyond their military careers.

At Mission Roll Call (MRC), our aim is to give every veteran and their loved ones a voice on the issues that matter most to them. We gather your opinions and feedback to understand and represent veteran priorities in our advocacy efforts each year, including veteran suicide prevention, healthcare and benefits, transition into employment, and veteran homelessness.

Fortunately, there are many reputable and committed VSOs creating an impact in the areas you’ve helped MRC identify as top priorities and beyond, and we’ve selected a few to share with you. We’ll continue to identify and distribute resources and information like this throughout the year, so please continue to check back for more.

Here are five veteran non-profits to know about:

Boulder Crest Foundation

The Boulder Crest Foundation focuses on post-traumatic growth, offering programs and retreats designed to help veterans and their families build resilience and thrive in their civilian lives.

They offer programs such as Warrior PATHH (Progressive and Alternative Training for Healing Heroes), a non-clinical path to post-traumatic growth; PATHH Discovery, a five-day retreat focusing on wellness and resilience; family programs, and online resources.

“It’s time to change the conversation from post-traumatic stress to post-traumatic growth,” said Josh Goldberg, CEO of the Boulder Crest Foundation.

Their programs incorporate elements such as wellness, mindfulness, and peer support, providing a holistic approach to mental health and well-being.

Team Red, White and Blue (Team RWB)

Team RWB’s mission is to enrich the lives of America’s veterans by connecting them to their community through physical and social activity.

In the military, service members push the limits of their well-being to support the mission. That selfless service posture has always been necessary because service members of every era knew they might be called to war. As they move into civilian life, many veterans carry that mission-first mindset with them, neglecting their health in the process.

Team RWB believes that veterans are America’s most resilient citizens — and it’s time for more veterans to prioritize their well-being first.

They organize a wide range of events, from fitness activities like running and yoga to social gatherings and volunteer opportunities. By fostering connections and promoting physical health, Team RWB helps veterans maintain a sense of purpose and camaraderie.

Team Rubicon

Team Rubicon unites the skills and experiences of military veterans with first responders to rapidly deploy emergency response teams in crisis situations.

Whether it’s natural disasters, humanitarian crises, or community service projects, Team Rubicon provides veterans with meaningful opportunities to continue their service while making a tangible impact on communities in need. In 2022 alone, 48,000 volunteers served 23,575 people across 140 communities through response and recovery operations, special projects, and skills training.

Team Rubicon’s vision is to support humanity and build resiliency for vulnerable communities across the world.

Avalon Action Alliance

Can you imagine what it must feel like to lose parts of yourself to invisible wounds like Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS), and Substance Abuse (SA)? Can you imagine how difficult it must be to integrate into civilian life when you feel lost and hopeless? This is the reality for some veterans and first responders.

Together, with an alliance of partners, Avalon Action Alliance connects our nation’s heroes with life-changing care.

Through advocacy, education, and support programs, Avalon addresses the unique challenges faced by military families, offering resources to enhance their quality of life and strengthen family bonds, including mental health, financial stability, and community integration.

Avalon Action Alliance’s focus on family support acknowledges that the challenges faced by veterans often extend to their families, and by addressing these challenges, they contribute to the overall well-being of the veteran community.

The Mission Continues

“Our vision is for all veterans with a desire to continue their service to be part of a movement to transform communities.”

The Mission Continues empowers veterans to continue their service by mobilizing them for volunteer work in select communities across the United States. Through service projects focused on areas such as education, homelessness, and neighborhood revitalization, veterans not only give back but also find purpose and connection as they work alongside fellow service-minded individuals.

To date, 93,600 volunteers have been activated in service to others, completing more than 8,600 service projects.

These organizations collectively represent a spectrum of support and opportunities for veterans and military families, addressing various aspects of their lives ranging from mental health and wellness to community integration, disaster response, family support, and continued service.

Through their innovative programs, dedicated staff, and collaboration with the veteran community, they continue to make a meaningful impact and enhance the lives of those who have served and their families.