St. Louis Veteran's New Mission is Helping Veterans Get Benefits

St. Louis veteran Shawna Carnduff is being recognized as part of the VFW’s Still Serving campaign – www.todaysvfw.org – that celebrates veterans who continue to serve others after the military.

Veterans may not know there is benefits free help available, or that they even qualify for benefits, so Carnduff makes it her goal to educate and advocate for veterans in her role as a VFW-accredited service officer.

Her greatest accomplishment, she said, is getting veterans awarded the compensation they deserve.

Carnduff is Still Serving because she is honored to stand up, speak out and fight for veterans, just as they fought for our country.

The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) launched Still Serving, a campaign to highlight how America’s combat veterans continue to serve in their local communities after transitioning from the military, in March 2020. What started as a campaign became a movement as veterans across the country stepped up to share stories of how they are still serving. In 2022, it launched an outgrowth of the Still Serving initiative, VFW Day of Service – an annual dedicated day of community service projects led by veterans throughout the world. More than 1,400 community service events have taken place since its commencement.

“Service doesn’t end when the uniform comes off,” said Carol Whitmore, VFW national commander. “The Still Serving campaign reminds us that veterans, to include the collective VFW, not only give back to our local communities, but we stand shoulder to shoulder with our fellow veterans, helping them navigate their VA benefits, advocating for enhanced quality of life programs and resources and ensuring no one is left behind. Veterans continue to answer the call, proving every day that the spirit of service lasts a lifetime.”

According to the 2021 Veterans Civic Health Index*, veterans average nearly 30 percent more volunteer hours per year and outpace civilians by 15 percent in charitable donations. Additionally, nearly 40 percent more veterans belong to a group working on community issues and veterans are more likely to be registered to vote (7 percent) and have recently voted (6 percent).

Since its launch, 5.7 million people have engaged with the campaign through the website, videos and social channels. Additionally, 3,000 veterans have shared their personal stories of sacrifice and service, and more than 1,000 veteran stories have been covered by media outlets worldwide.

Building on a legacy of service spanning over a century, Still Serving captures the essence of the VFW and its members, reflecting the ongoing evolution of today’s VFW Post as a place where veterans can seek support, share camaraderie with those who have similar experiences, and give back to both fellow veterans and the broader community. The VFW encourages veterans to share stories on social media using Still Serving to show how they continue to answer the call to serve in ways big and small. Family and friends can use Still Serving in social media posts to honor a veteran in their lives who believes the spirit of service transcends military life.

For more information about the Still Serving initiative, visit www.todaysvfw.org.
To find a VFW service officer near you, visit vfw.org/NVS.