How to Help Military Families during the Holidays
Sacrifice. It lies at the heart of being in the military or being part of a military family. For those in military service, missing birthdays, Thanksgiving and Christmas are part of their duty to protect our great nation. However, for some military service personnel, the holidays can be a lonely time once they’re back home and off duty. For injured servicemen and servicewomen, the holidays may even be spent recovering alone in a VA hospital. There is hope though, and it comes in the form of the Fisher House Foundation.
The Fisher House Foundation and Specs for Vets
As an eyewear provider that serves active military, veterans, and their families, we are dedicated to helping those who have given so much to our country. As a service-disabled, veteran-owned online store, we understand the challenges the holidays can bring for military families. That’s why we not only provide high-quality VA eyeglasses frames and sunglasses at affordable prices for the military community, but also give back through military charities, including the Fisher House Foundation. This outstanding military charity provides a ‘home away from home’ for military families whose loved ones are receiving care at any military or VA hospital. We are proud to give a portion of the profits made from all of our online eyewear sales straight to the Fisher House Foundation.
The Impact of the Fisher House Foundation
The Fisher House Foundation has built over 90 comfort homes near military and VA medical centers. From Alaska to Hawaii, California to Virginia, and Minnesota to Texas — Fisher Houses cover the length and breadth of the country. It means families can be close to their loved ones while they undergo medical treatment. Each Fisher House has up to 21 suites, which include private bedrooms and baths. Every house also features a warm and welcoming shared kitchen, dining room, and living room, as well as laundry facilities, making each Fisher House a supportive community in itself.
At Christmas time, Fisher Houses make an even bigger difference, ensuring military families can come together just as other families across the nation do, without facing financial hardship. This charity is estimated to have saved military families more than $500 million in out-of-pocket expenses, such as lodging and transportation, since 1990 when it was founded by philanthropist Zachary Fisher.
In 2019 alone, the foundation provided lodging for more than 32,000 families. On any given day Fisher Houses host up to 1,200 families. This means around half a million military families have been helped since 1990 with over 10 million days of free lodging.
More Help At Hand
Lodging isn’t the only way the Fisher House Foundation makes a difference. Through its Hero Miles program, it uses donated frequent flyer miles to fly family members to the bedsides of injured military servicemen and servicewomen — so far it’s purchased over 70,000 flights for military families. The Hotels for Heroes program similarly uses donated hotel points to enable family members to stay at hotels near military and VA medical centers for free.
But that isn’t all. It also provides scholarships for the spouses and children of active military and disabled or fallen veterans. So far over 12,000 individuals have benefited from the scholarship program, with over $25 million in scholarship awards granted.
The Fisher House Foundation also supports other military charities with grants. It can do so thanks to the donations of countless individuals, organizations, and businesses, including ourselves, Specs for Vets, and makes good use of every cent. In fact, 93% of every dollar donated is spent directly on helping active military, veterans, and their families.
The impact of the Fisher House Foundation reaches far and wide, touching every aspect of the lives of our military and their families. It, therefore, isn’t surprising that it’s held in such high regard within the military community but its reputation has also been recognized by official bodies.
Top Scores for the Fisher House Foundation
For the last 16 years in a row, the Fisher House Foundation has been awarded a 4-star rating from America’s largest independent evaluator of charities, Charity Navigator. It also received an A+ rating from CharityWatch – an independent charity watchdog launched 25 years ago by the American Institute of Philanthropy. There are only 2 other organizations under CharityWatch’s category, ‘Veterans and Military’, that have received an A+ rating.
You can therefore put your trust in the Fisher House Foundation when it comes to following through on its promise to do the very best for our military personnel and their families. It’s a promise it continues to deliver on year after year, with more Fisher Houses planned, and more grants and scholarships to be awarded.
Make a Difference Today
We’re proud to be one of many veteran-owned online stores doing their part to support the military community. So when you buy your eyewear from Specs for Vets, you can enjoy high-quality eyewear for superior vision and know that you are making a difference to the military community by helping us help the Fisher House Foundation.
Right now, you can do this and take advantage of 25% off all of our frames. Browse our online catalog, find your perfect match, and use the discount glasses coupon code FRAME25 at the checkout. This exclusive discount is valid until January 31st 2021, so find your affordable glasses online now at Specs for Vets. Have Happy Christmas and a great New Year!