Support our Troops
Each and every day, over a million people serve our country,
helping protect us both at home and overseas.
From their time in active service to when they return home as veterans, these heroes can face unique physical and emotional challenges. Whatever your age, it’s easy to find ways to help service people and veterans wherever you live.
Ready to Make a Difference?
Check out our Activity Finder to find ways to help near you or projects you can do from home.
Create an account so you can favorite activities and track your impact.
Keep reading to learn about facts, how you can help, our nonprofit partners, recommended books to read, additional resources, and lesson plans.
Did you know…
> 1 million people serve our country every day.
> 18 million veterans live in the U.S.
Nearly 11% of homeless Americans are veterans.
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We need your support to keep making great educational materials for young people, parents, and teachers.
How can you help?
There are a lot of ways you can support our veterans and troops where you live:
- Send a care package. Care packages help troops get the items they need year-round and improve morale and well-being. Here are some ideas on what to include in your care package.
- Write a letter. There’s nothing like getting a thoughtful, handwritten letter. Writing a letter to a service member deployed overseas can help boost their spirits while they’re far from home. Get started here.
- Raise money or donate. Through activities like bake sales, you can raise money and donate it to your local veteran’s organization. You can also donate goods, like blankets, to veterans in need and their families.
- Say “Thank you.” Sometimes the best thing you can do for someone else is make them feel appreciated. Thanking active duty service people and veterans you see out and about can go a long way to brightening their day. Start by writing a thank you card.
- Organize a cell phone drive. Collect unwanted phones, and donate them to be recycled. The funds go to helping connect military members with their loved ones. Start your drive.
Our Nonprofit Partners
These are just some of the inspiring partners we work with to help support our troops:
National
Find ideas for your family to give back to the troops, like making no-sew blankets.
National
Learn about a great cause, and see why donating used cell phones is such a big help.
Recommended Reading List
Reading is a great way to better understand the causes you care about and how you can help. Here are some books and online resources to get you started. As an Amazon Associate Project Giving Kids earns a small commission from qualifying purchases.*
Elementary
Veterans: Heroes in Our Neighborhood
by Valerie Pfundstein
H is for Honor: A Military Family Alphabet and One Nation
by David Scillian
Proud as a Peacock, Brave as a Lion
by Jane Barclay
by Eve Bunting
Middle School
by Trent Reedy
by Trent Reedy
by Alan Gratz
by Sheila Keenan and Nathan Fox
by Lois Lowry
High School
The Impossible Knife of Memory
by Laurie Halse Anderson
by Dana Reinhardt
Soldiers Once: My Brother and the Lost Dreams of America’s Veterans
by Catherine Whitney
by Veda Stamps
by Sam Gaylord
Additional Online Resources
Interested in learning more? Check out these organizations and their websites for more information!
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Learn more about veterans and how Veterans Day got its start.
The Military Wife and Mom
Here are a few easy ways kids can thank veterans.
Our Military Kids
Find great ways to help service members by supporting their kids and families at home.
Military.com
See simple and inexpensive ways your family can support our troops and their families year-round.
*The books, websites, charities, and/or other entities we share does not imply explicit endorsement by PGK, nor does PGK have any responsibility for the content provided by other organizations or websites. Content on this site is provided for informational purposes only.
Educational Materials
Teachers and parents can teach kids about helping animals in the classroom or at home with our educational materials.
Choose the grade level below to find a lesson plan.
Elementary School Lesson Plan
Overview
This lesson will focus on recognizing veterans as heroes and ways we can honor them.
Objectives
- Students will examine the roles of veterans and current military in protecting our country and freedom
- Students will reflect on ways to honor our veterans and current military
Middle School Lesson Plan
Overview
This lesson will focus on supporting our troops by exploring the challenges and needs of military spouses and children.
Objectives
- Students will explore the needs and challenges of military families
- Students will reflect upon the importance of helping military families as a way to support our troops
High School Lesson Plan
Overview
This lesson will focus on supporting our troops by recognizing the prevalence of PTSD and suicide among military veterans and understanding how to provide effective therapy for PTSD and suicide prevention.
Objectives
- Students will explore how PTSD and suicide affects military veterans
- Students will examine ways to support our troops by providing effective care for those suffering from PTSD and increasing suicide prevention measures