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How the American Legion Helps Military & Veterans

How the American Legion Helps Military & Veterans

The American Legion provides many services that help the US military and veterans. The Legion has been helping families since 1919!

The Family Support Network provides assistance to those who are struggling to afford everyday expenses, such as groceries, child care, yard maintenance, auto repair, or other necessary and routine tasks.

Applicants are encouraged to either call the nationwide toll-free number (800) 504-4098 or apply online for assistance. Your local American Legion hometown post receives the information you submit, so they can figure out how to best assist you.

Minor Children Are Also Eligible for Temporary Financial Assistance

If you have minor children (or are a minor child), you could request Temporary Financial Assistance in emergencies. These cash grants are available to assist with shelter, utilities, food, utilities, and health costs. Since 1925, this program has allowed children to live in stable homes.

To qualify for these grants, you must meet specific age and parentage requirements. Recipients must be under age 18, but certain children who are still enrolled in high school or are physically handicapped may continue to be eligible until age 20. Children who are not members of The American Legion must have a parent who is currently serving on active duty. Current American Legion members can get assistance without being on active duty.

Operation Comfort Warriors 

Wounded veterans may also be able to receive help with comfort, adjustment, and assistance to increase their quality of life. This may involve giving them anything from books, DVDs, and puzzles to computers, entertainment centers, and kayaks. OCW does not assist with large or reoccurring finances like rent, car payments, utilities, or mortgages. To apply, click here.

VA Claims Assistance

The American Legion also provides assistance in filing VA benefits claims, finding employment after military separation, filing for and using GI Bill Benefits and more. Of course, you’ll need to visit their website for more information.

Circular logo of the US American Legion

American Legion Scholarships

The Legion coordinates several different scholarships, including:

Samsung Scholarship provides assistance to undergraduates who participate in either the American Legion Boys State or American Legion Auxiliary Girls State programs. The recipient must be a direct descendant or legally adopted child of a wartime US military veteran. The awards vary from $1,250 to $10,000 each.

Legacy Scholarship provides up to $20,000. This scholarship is only available to children of US military members who died in the line of service on or after September 11, 2001. Children of veterans after 9/11, who were assigned a combined disability rating of 50% or higher by the Dept. of Veteran’s Affairs can also qualify for this scholarship.

Baseball Scholarship provides between $500 to $5,000 to selected American Legion baseball players.

Oratorical Contest Scholarships are awarded to three finalists in the National High School Oratorical Contest. The three finalists receive $25,000 for 1st place, $22,500 for 2nd place, and $20,000 for 3rd place. Finalists can use the money toward any college or university they choose as long as it is in the United States.

Eagle Scout of the Year Scholarship provides one Eagle Scout per year with a $10,000 scholarship. Three runners-up receive $2,500.  All winners receive their scholarship upon graduation and it must be used within 4 years unless for religious or active military reasons.

Junior Shooting Sports Scholarship provides awards to winners in two categories. The 1st place winners receive a college scholarship of $5,000 and an expense-paid trip to the American Legion National Convention, where they will receive honors. Additionally, the 2nd place winners receive $1,000 each. All winners receive their scholarship upon graduation and it must be used within 8 years unless for religious or active military reasons.

Nicole is the owner and lead researcher for Low Income Relief. She has over 20 years of professional research and writing experience, and she has been solely dedicated to investigating low income topics for the last 10 years. Nicole started Low Income Relief after a personal experience with poverty. When her husband was medically discharged from the US Army, their family experienced tremendous financial hardship. Nicole was able to gather help from multiple community agencies and move into a nearby low income housing unit in just two weeks! Since then, Nicole has been dedicated to helping low income families in crisis. She regularly spends hundreds of hours combing through countless resources to make sure that Low Income Relief has the most comprehensive and complete resource directories on the internet today. Prior to starting Low Income Relief, Nicole worked as a novelist, journalist, ghostwriter and content creator. Her work has been featured in various print and online publications, including USA Today, The Daily Herald, The Chronicle and more. Her work has also been featured by Google for Publishers and other leading industry publications.