South Carolina, USA Cares Volunteers for New Chapter

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USA Cares is a 501c(3) charitable organization that addresses the critical and unmet needs of post-9/11 military, veterans, and their families. We have responded to over 65,000 requests for emergency financial help with over $11.5 million in granted assistance. We are looking for Volunteers to head up a committee and become a Chapter here in SC. Motivated, passionate and driven individuals who want to support our military and those here in SC specifically. USA cares operates four core programs:

Combat Injured: With the increased exposure to combat stress, there has been a dramatic and steadily growing number of service members suffering with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI). They require extended treatment to heal. The VA covers treatment, but not lost wages. A significant number of these service members are under-employed or employed with companies that can’t pay them while they receive treatment. Our Combat Injured program pays their basic expenses - mortgage/rent, food for their family and home utilities - enabling them to receive treatment and be assured their family is taken care of.

1. USA Cares has aided over 800 families providing $1.3 million in support.

   Jobs Assistance: Employers are reluctant to hire Reservists or Guardsmen who may again deploy or require follow-up care due to their injuries. This program combines public/private partnerships to enable veterans to attain higher-paying career oriented jobs. If necessary, we pay a service member’s essential expenses while they train for a new job and we relieve any financial barrier that keeps them from getting a new job or career, including the cost of moving their family across country to a new job, buying tools required for a new job or travel and lodging expenses for job interviewing.

2. USA Cares has secured the training and placement of 1,000 Veterans.

   Housing Assistance: We directly pay the landlord or mortgage lender when bills are past due and caused by a military service-related incident such as a prolonged reduction in pay for Reservists or Guardsmen, or extended delay in compensation by the VA to injured vets.

3. USA Cares has saved over 8,000 military homes and kept over 11,000 children from being homeless.

   Emergency Assistance: This program pays immediate, essential bills, including food and utility bills. We have paid a bill while the utility company truck is in the driveway, ready to shut off a family’s lights. We again focus on those cases where the financial stress is related to military service.

4. USA Cares typically assists these emergencies with between $25K and $30K per week with an average grant size of $650. What is most impressive is that in most cases, when USA Cares is contacted to provide assistance, we are able to triage the request and have a check in the mail or a credit card payment made within 48 hours.

   What makes USA Cares different from other charities?

5. A grant versus Loans - USA Cares provides grants, while many other military assistance groups provide loans, which only compound a bad situation.

6. Leveraging other Assistance - USA Cares mobilizes other organizations to join in providing assistance, maximizing the impact of your donation. For every one dollar in assistance given by USA Cares, we estimate that another eight dollars is found with ancillary resources to benefit the family.

USA Cares has received support from several major foundations and corporations, including Hardee’s, Carl’s Jr., Associated Builders and Contractors, Boot Campaign, Foundation for Financial Planning, USAA, MacLellan, Fannie Mae, SVM, USA Together, Humana, Caesars Entertainment, Marco’s Pizza, Pride Mobility Products Corp., SNAAC, Mattress & More, Furniture Liquidators, McCormick Foundation, Walt Disney Company, HBO Network, the Major League Baseball Association, and Brighton stores.

For years to come, post-9/11 military families will face unique challenges due to their service to our Nation. If you would like to learn more about USA Cares, please go to www.usacares.org .