🪖 6 Meaningful Ways to Show Appreciation During Military Appreciation Month

Service members graduating from Basic Combat Training (BCT)

 
May is National Military Appreciation Month, a time dedicated to honoring the service, sacrifice, and strength of military members, veterans, and their families. Military life comes with unique challenges, from frequent moves to long separations, but it also builds a strong sense of resilience, pride, and community. This month is a meaningful reminder to pause and show appreciation for those who serve both in and out of uniform.

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6 Simple Ways to Show Appreciation to the Military

1. Create Care Packages 
A simple handwritten note and care package full of goodies can go a long way. Expressing gratitude directly to a service member or military family can be incredibly meaningful. Some organizations has a system where they pair you up with a service member like a "Adopt-a-Soldier" where they write down the service members wishlists of items they want and need. Then you make a care package catered to them. IT is really fun to make someone's day a little bit better.

At the time of this writing, I am not sure if military organizations are accepting care packages due to current events, but do your research and reach out to any that might want to continue resume this program.

Pokemon themed care package I made for a deployed soldier overseas

2. Support Military Spouse or Veteran Owned Businesses
Many military spouses run small businesses. Supporting them helps strengthen the military community and recognizes their contributions. Being a military spouse, it means we move every few years and it is tough having a stable job, let alone a long term career. Supporting us military spouses really helps out in more ways than you would know. Their home based businesses can be pet sitting, baby sitting, photography, baking, meal preps, just to name a few. Here is a list of military spouse owned business

There is a military spouse owned business where they sell cute, good quality bags called R. Riveter American Collective. It is on the pricier end, but I like them. I am not sponsored by them, but have purchased 2 bags in the past and loved them. 

My R. Riveter bag

3. Volunteer Your Time
Look for local opportunities to volunteer with organizations that support military families, veterans, or active duty members. My favorite is volunteering with the USO centers on the military base. Check your local airport to see if they have a center location there if you do not have access to a military base nearby. 

I volunteered with the USO while stationed in South Korea

4. Educate Yourself About Military Life
Understanding the challenges of deployments, PCS moves, and military culture helps build empathy and stronger support for the community. There are lots of military content creators on social media, ranging from military spouse lifestyle, military humor, and more. Or if you live near a military base and have access to it, I recommend visiting the military museum and see how life was like for previous service members during war times.

Check out my Fort Stewart, GA museum walk through video and Fort Benning Infantry Museum video.

List of all US military museums: here

The National Infantry Museum at Fort Benning

5. Pay if Forward
If you are financially able, consider paying it forward. This might be easier for those who live near a military base/town. Sometimes the simplest gesture as paying for someone's meal or coffee can brighten their day. At the end of the end, you may never know what someone is going through. It really is the little things that can make a positive impact on someone's life. Pay it forward throughout the year. 

Paying it forward a Starbucks drink.

6. Donate
When all else fails, the military is always in need of donations. They are always in need of any financial contributions. Every little bit helps. There is a misconception that service members and their families live a lavish and "comfortable" life style, but in reality they are living paycheck to paycheck. In the fall, likc clockwork, there is the annual government shutdown where service members still have to go to work and not have a paycheck. The struggle is real and no one knows the reality of what they go through.

I recommend donating to reputable organizations such as USO, Blue Star Families, or Wounded Warrior Projects, just to name a few. 

Speech at a BCT family day. 

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Conclusion

National Military Appreciation Month is about more than recognition. It is about connection, understanding, and gratitude. Whether you are part of the military community or supporting from the outside, every small act of appreciation matters. Together, we can continue to uplift and support those who serve and sacrifice every day.