Profile in Need: Iraq Vet Seeks Relief through Collection Industry Military Charity

COLLINGSWOOD, N.J. – ARMing Heroes (www.armingheroes.org), the collection industry’s charity for military veterans, today provided a glimpse into the needs facing America’s veterans hoping for financial relief from the organization in 2016.

The charity began accepting applications for the 2016 No Debts for Vets grant-making program earlier this month, and has already received dozens of applications from veterans and military families seeking help to ease financial difficulties that typically accrue as a direct result of the veteran’s service, for needs not often met by other charities or government programs. One applicant, profiled below, faces challenging circumstances indicative of those faced by most applicants.

Jeremiah Close

Jeremiah Close is a husband, father of three teenagers, and U.S. Army veteran who served in Iraq, in an imminent danger pay area, earning more than a dozen medals and awards during his 14-plus years of service. His service-connected injuries prompted his discharge from the Army, and also led to significant other medical bills, which, since the family has no health insurance, accrued quickly and are now delinquent.

Thanks to the Post 9/11 GI Bill, Jeremiah is currently enrolled as a student, but, with only his VA benefits and his wife’s small salary as income, the family is struggling to make ends meet. He and his family are doing everything they can to help bring in any additional income, but it’s not enough. Jeremiah’s application indicated the following:

“We have tried to negotiate my medical bills to reduce our monthly payments, but have not been successful. I sold my toolbox to make a loan payment, and we have held numerous yard/garage sales to get extra money to help us get by. At the end of the month, we don’t have enough to cover the even the minimum of what we owe. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.”

Unfortunately, stories like this are all too common among our nation’s vets. Fortunately, you can help, and here’s how.

Hold a Drive and Raise $10 Per Employee

ARMing Heroes encourages ARM firms to get behind this worthy cause by holding a company-wide fund drive or making a corporate donation with a goal of $10 per employee to change the lives of several veterans overnight.  To register to hold a drive, click here. 

Once you complete the form, you will be prompted to download an Employee Fund Drive Starter Kit that outlines in four easy steps what is needed to announce, manage, and complete a successful employee drive.

Grant awards typically range in amounts from a few hundred dollars up to a several thousand dollars, all in the form of direct payments to creditors on behalf of the grant recipient.  Heartfelt stories of our thankful 2015 grant recipients demonstrate the help and hope this program offers to America’s vets, who want nothing more than to get their lives back on track.

The charity’s flagship No Debts for Vets Charity Fundraising Drive runs from September 11^th through Veterans Day, November 11^th every year, however tax-deductible donations are accepted at any time online at www.armingheroes.org and via mail to PO Box 353, Collingswood, NJ 08108, payable to ARMing Heroes. Pledges may be made to info@armingheroes.org.  Any amounts pledged or donated now will be applied to the 2016 drive.

About ARMing Heroes

ARMing Heroes was founded and began operating in March, 2009.  The organization’s mission is to serve the needs of U.S. military veterans, including their spouse and children. ARMing Heroes fills a charitable niche by linking people identified with employment, credit, and financial counseling needs with the accounts receivable management industry, an industry uniquely poised to help in these areas.  Persons interested in volunteering their time and others interested in applying for benefits or pledging other forms of support are encouraged to contact the organization at www.armingheroes.org.

What Can I Do Right Now to Help?

• Visit www.armingheroes.org and donate now.
• Make ARMing Heroes your designated charity through the AmazonSmile program.
• Like the ARMing Heroes page and post this article to your page on Facebook.
• Tweet about this article on Twitter.
• Join our group on LinkedIn, the ARMing Heroes Veterans Charity Supporter / Assistance Center.
• Forward this article via email to your key contacts.
• Print this article and fax it to your local congressional office and ask them to post our website on theirs as a resource for vets.