This article was sponsored by Navy Federal Credit Union. Navy Federal Credit Union is federally insured by NCUA.
Military service is not your typical 9-to-5 job.
It doesn’t stay contained within a straightforward job description. This is a job that follows Servicemembers and their families through late nights, early mornings, sudden orders, PCSing across the country (or even the world), and through long stretches of uncertainty.
It looks like missed birthdays and holidays with loved ones, packing up a life with little notice, holding down the fort at home during long deployments, and sometimes starting over and over again in new places with new communities.
That’s why a simple “thank you for your service” is just the beginning of ways that we can show gratitude for the sacrifices military members and their families make on a day-to-day basis.
Military Appreciation Month, observed each May, celebrates current Servicemembers, Veterans, and their families who support them. Setting aside the month of May to celebrate our military allows us to go further and recognize not just the service itself, but the sacrifices, resilience and everyday realities that come with it. This allows us the opportunity to respond with something more tangible than words alone.
Here are five creative and meaningful ways to celebrate Military Appreciation Month that turn appreciation into action:
1. Upgrade everyday purchases by supporting Veteran-owned businesses.
You don’t need to overhaul your routine to show appreciation; you just need to shift where you spend.
Veteran-owned businesses are everywhere, from your local coffee shop to online brands, service providers, and creative small businesses. Supporting them is one of the simplest and most sustainable ways to give back. If you need a place to start, check out these Veteran-owned businesses:
- Glam Soldier– Boho Americana Boutique
- Klenr– Soaps and Sundries
- Authentically American– American-made apparel
- R.Riveter– American collective handbags
When you support a Veteran-owned business, you’re not just buying a product. You are also investing in someone’s next chapter after service.
2. Volunteer with military-focused nonprofits.
Choose to give the gift of your time this Military Appreciation Month. Military life comes with unique challenges, such as frequent moves, long separations, constant rebuilding of community, and more. There are many nonprofits that serve to fill these gaps and come alongside our military members.
Consider volunteering with organizations that support military families during deployments, help Veterans transition to civilian careers, or provide housing, food assistance, and/or mental health resources. A few places to start could be your local USO, Wounded Warrior Project, Homes for Our Troops, Operation Gratitude, and Hope for the Warriors. You could also do a quick internet search for “military nonprofits near me” to find specialized NPOs in your community.
The best part? You don’t have to commit long-term to make an impact. Even a few hours of your time can help lighten someone else’s load.
3. Write letters or send care packages.
In a world of primarily virtual communication and social media, a handwritten letter still hits differently. For deployed Servicemembers, receiving physical mail can be a powerful reminder that their service is seen and appreciated.
Share a funny story, write a note of encouragement, and include small comforts like snacks, books, or photos. It doesn’t have to be perfect; it just has to be thoughtful. A little bit can go a long way.
You could also take it a step further and write a note to a military spouse or child of a military member, thanking them for their service back at home. Heroes are not just those who serve on the front lines, but also those at home who love them and support them from afar.
4. Build community by hosting a local appreciation event.
Appreciation doesn’t have to be formal to be meaningful. Hosting a simple, local gathering, such as a BBQ, park meetup, or neighborhood block party, can create space for connection among current or former military members, their families, and the broader community.
Invite military families, create a welcoming environment, and let the conversation do the rest. For many military families who move frequently, being included, even in something small, can mean everything.
5. Give back together by participating in community service projects.
Want to make a bigger impact? Make it a group effort. Community service projects are a powerful way to celebrate Military Appreciation Month while creating something tangible.
A few community service project ideas include organizing a donation drive for military families, partnering with a local base or organization, volunteering at a local Veterans home serving food and talking to residents, participating in a beautification project for parks or rivers, or environmental cleanup, and more.
It turns appreciation into action and action into something that lasts beyond the moment.
Organizations are showing up, too.
While individual acts of appreciation matter, organizations also play an important role in recognizing and supporting the military community by offering discounts and specials all month long.
For example, Navy Federal Credit Union celebrates Military Appreciation Month through a variety of initiatives, including special offers for new and current members built with the military community in mind. Learn more at navyfederal.org/celebrate.
You can also support their Military Appreciation Month efforts right at home. If you have an Amazon Fire TV, make sure you check out Navy Federal’s partnership with Stream It Forward. For every hour of select content streamed, $1 will be donated to Hire Heroes USA—empowering transitioning service members, veterans, and military spouses to succeed in the civilian workforce.
Head to your Fire TV homepage to learn more and see which movie titles qualify.
It’s not about doing everything, but it is about doing something.
You don’t need to do everything in this article to give back to the military members who have given so much. Appreciation isn’t measured by how much you do, but rather the intention behind it.
Send a letter, show up to the event, support a Veteran-owned business, or volunteer your time. Just remember the most meaningful way to say “thank you for your service” is to make sure it’s felt, not just heard.