You may not have time to go all-out with Independence Day happening midweek this year, but you can still bring a few crafty touches to your home to make it more patriotic — and the local secondhand store will be a valuable source of materials. You can thrift a few mason jars to create Fourth of July lanterns, paint a patriotic shutter or create a clothespin wreath to celebrate the red, white and blue, Country Living suggests. More patriotic still, buying your craft materials at thrift stores supplied by donations to ClothingDonations.org helps fund programs benefiting the nation’s veterans.
Tag: help a veteran
Decluttering Helps Bring Dignity
Not only do your donations to ClothingDonations.org help declutter your home, they also help fund VVA programs such as Uniforms for Final Salute, an initiative that Chapter 910 in Corpus Christi launched that ensures that homeless and indigent veterans are laid to rest in uniform and with dignity. Chapter members in the area have arranged funeral services and honor guards for more than a dozen of their brethren so far, and ClothingDonations.org has helped many thousands of people get rid of their unwanted stuff.
Observing the Anniversary of 9/11
On the 16th anniversary of 9/11, the Vietnam Veterans Association (VVA) encourages readers of its blog to remember the 2,996 people who perished in the devastating terrorist attacks against the United States that day, as well as the sacrifices made by more than 2.5 million U.S. personnel who have served in the global war on terror since. Show them and the rest of the nation’s veterans that you care today by offering a meaningful thank-you for their service, and donate some of your time, money or expertise to a veteran or veterans group.
Donations Equal Deductions
When you donate used clothing and household items to ClothingDonations.org, the Internal Revenue Service allows you to deduct the fair market value (FMV) of the items on your income tax return. FMV is the amount you can reasonably expect people to pay for used clothes and other items in secondhand stores; tax preparation software programs such as TurboTax can help ascribe a value to many common items.
Thank a Veteran
Sometimes a simple sign of gratitude goes a long way. If you’re looking for a way to help veterans, saying “thank you” to a grandparent, friend, relative or stranger means a lot. Make sure that the veterans you know (or don’t know) understand how much you appreciate their service.