More Sources of Emergency Financial Help for Military and Veterans

We've had a posting about emergency assistance for veterans (mostly from state and county sources) before, but have since unearthed some private, nonprofit sources, too.

The Armed Forces Foundation provides emergency funding and bereavement funding for active military and veterans' families. with things like rent, car payments, child care and other basic needs.   If you need to contact them asap, there's a toll-free number for the American Red Cross Emergency Armed Forces Foundation: 877-272-7337.  They also have a page full of other links to organizations that help members of the military and veterans. 

For active duty and veteran members of the Navy and Marines, the the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society helps them and their eligible family members.  This includes indigent mothers and widows of deceased service members (if they have limited resources) over 65, and the ex-spouses of navy and marine members, who were married to them at least 20 years while they were in active service.

The Air Force Aid Society offers emergency assistance to active and retired members of the Air Force and their families, as well as  eligible members of the Air Force National Guard and the Air Force Reserve.  See their website for more information.

Get Your Culture Vulture On--Free Museum Passes

I realize that not many are lucky enough to have a wonderful museum like the Toledo Museum of Art free to them every day (except for special exhibits).  So we in Toledo like to bask/brag a bit.  In fact TMA is also letting active military personnel and their immediate families in free for one special exhibit, the Egypt Experience till September 4th. 

But lots of free opportunities await you at museums around the country.  On September 24, 2011, the Smithonian Museum in Washington, which is always free, sponsors a free museum day at various locations around the country.  Send them an application for a free ticket for two, and the holder can get in for free.

But many other museums have "free days" too.  The website Free Museum Day lists the free days for museums in Boston, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, and San Diego.  They also list museums in those cities that are free all the time.

For military personnel and their families, museums in the Blue Star initiative (of which there are over 1500 in the U.S. and territories) are given free admission (up to five family members) between Memorial Day and Labor Day. 

Finally, holders of a Bank of America credit card are given free admission to over 150 museums around the country on certain days each month.  See the website for days in your area musuems.

A New Scholarship for Children of Military Members Who Die in the Line of Duty

The Veterans Administration announced a new scholarship for the children of military personnel who have died in the line of duty since 9/11. The Fry Scholarship is named after Sergeant John David Fry, who died in Iraq in 2006.

Eligible children must be over the age of 18 to use the benefit, but may use it up to 15 years after reaching 18, and may receive 36 months of benefits at the 100% level. The benefit is retroactive back to August 1, 2009. Eligible children attending school may receive up to the highest public, in-state undergraduate tuition and fees, plus a monthly living stipend and book allowance under this program. For more information, call 1-888-442-4551. See the GI bill site for more information and an application.