When Commander Lee Saffold talks about the Veterans of Foreign Wars, he doesn’t start with statistics or talking points. He starts with sacrifice.
“We have had 250 years of freedom,” he says. “This organization has done 126 of those years to maintain those freedoms. 126 years of men giving their lives, sacrificing limbs, sacrificing their sanity, sacrificing time with their families.”
In a recent interview with Bonnie Mauldin, publisher of Highlight Georgia, Commander Saffold of VFW Post 12002 in Alpharetta opened up about what drives the organization and what local veterans, families, and community members can do to help.
The History Behind the Mission
The VFW traces its roots to 1899, when veterans of the Spanish-American War came together to support one another. Today, 126 years later, the organization remains one of the most trusted veterans charities in America and one of the most effective advocates for veteran benefits assistance.
“If it wasn’t for the VFW, there wouldn’t even be a VA,” Commander Saffold notes. The organization has been instrumental in pushing Congress to create and expand services for veterans, from healthcare to disability claims to burial benefits.
But the VFW’s work isn’t limited to Washington. Local posts like 12002 provide direct, hands-on support to veterans in their communities help that often makes the difference between stability and crisis.
What Services Does VFW Offer Veterans?
VFW Post 12002 focuses on several core initiatives:
Benefits Assistance
The VFW employs trained benefit advisors (formerly called service officers) who help veterans navigate the VA claims process. Whether it’s a VA disability claim, housing help, employment assistance, or mental health resources, the VFW helps veterans access what they’ve earned.
“A lot of these guys, they don’t know how to do all that, and they get all mixed up when they try to,” Commander Saffold explains. “So that’s a crucial part of what we do.”
Veteran Emergency Financial Help
When a veteran is in crisis facing homelessness, struggling to feed their family, or simply unable to get back on their feet local VFW posts step in. Post 12002 recently spent seven months helping a Marine Corps veteran named Henry Thomas, who was about to be evicted with his wife and five children.
“We got him treatment for his PTSD, we got him his benefits, we got him a car to drive, we got him a place to live for him and his family,” Commander Saffold says. “We took a man that was about to be on the street, and we didn’t stop until he could stand on his own.”
Suicide Prevention
The VFW’s top priority right now is preventing veteran suicides. While the daily rate has dropped from 22 to 16, Commander Saffold is clear: “That’s not the kind of progress we want. We want it down to zero.”
The approach is practical. Instead of waiting for a crisis, the VFW works to eliminate the stressors that push veterans toward despair financial instability, untreated PTSD, lack of housing, and isolation.
Scholarship and Youth Programs
Through the Voice of Democracy program, VFW posts sponsor high school students in speech competitions that promote patriotism and civic engagement. National winners receive up to $35,000 in scholarships.
The Unsung Heroes: Military Families
Commander Saffold is passionate about recognizing the sacrifices of military spouses and families.
“Nobody ever walks up to a woman and says, ‘Thank you for your service, thank you for standing by your husband while he was getting shot at,'” he says. “Those women yeah, they weren’t getting shot at but boy, they had burdens to carry.”
While their service members were deployed, spouses raised children alone, managed finances, and lived with the constant fear that their loved one might not return. The VFW offers resources for veterans’ families, including survivor assistance and family support programs.
How to Volunteer with the VFW
Commander Saffold is direct about what the organization needs most: people.
“We’re getting older. We need help,” he says. “We need veterans that care enough about their buddies to come in and help us do this work.”
But you don’t have to be a veteran to volunteer. VFW community service opportunities include:
- Event support — Helping at fundraisers, community events, and VFW post activities
- Veteran outreach — Identifying veterans in need and connecting them with resources
- Direct assistance — Helping veterans move, watching their children, providing transportation
- Advocacy — Using your influence to raise awareness and funding
“We need people that know people to speak for us,” Commander Saffold explains. “Suppose your neighbor is well-connected. If you want to really help, just talk to them about what we’re doing and ask if they can support us.”
The “VFW Auxiliary also offers volunteer opportunities for family members and community supporters who want to serve veterans in their area.
How to Donate to the VFW
Local donations make local impact possible.
Post 12002 operates on roughly $30,000 per year at minimum enough to help one veteran at a time. With $100,000 annually, the post could support 10 to 15 homeless veterans in getting back on their feet.
“We’re small, so we can’t help 100 veterans,” Commander Saffold admits.
“We take them one at a time, and we work on them until they’re standing on their own.”
Commander Saffold
You can donate to VFW online through the national website or contribute directly to your local post. Corporate partners like Sport Clips and Home Depot also support VFW programs Sport Clips alone donated $1 million last year.
Finding Your Local VFW Post
If you’re a veteran seeking help, a family member looking for resources, or a community member who wants to volunteer or donate to veterans near you, the easiest path is through the VFW website. Search for your local post by city or ZIP code.
For those in the Alpharetta, Georgia, area, VFW Post 12002 serves veterans throughout the region. You can reach them through the VFW website or connect with them at local Chamber of Commerce events.
Why It Matters
Commander Saffold’s own journey from enlisted avionics technician to Navy lieutenant, from theology degree to calculus classes, from lone wolf veteran to community leader illustrates what the VFW represents.
“The most impactful thing in my life was service in the military,” he says. “I needed to be around those kind of people. The camaraderie is very important to me.” But more than fellowship, the VFW offers purpose.
“It’s shameful to let veterans be sleeping on the street. I cannot take it,” he says. “What this does for me is give me a chance to say I did something. It wasn’t much, but I did what a man could do.”
Take Action
Veterans and families seeking help: Visit the VFW website to find your local post, or search “VFW near me” for immediate assistance with VA claims, emergency financial help, PTSD support, housing, and more.
Volunteers and donors: Contact VFW Post 12002 in Alpharetta, Georgia, or your nearest local VFW post to learn about volunteer opportunities and ways to give. Every dollar and every hour goes directly toward helping veterans in your community.
Photography by Joanne Sullivan
