Valentine’s Day may be a “Hallmark Holiday” that not a lot of people take seriously these days, but for military spouses, active duty service members, and their families, it can often be a rather painful reminder of the reality of a sustained separation.

As an active duty military spouse for the last 15 years, my husband has been away for more Valentine’s Days than I can count. Most of these separations occurred during the first half of our marriage, when he deployed three times in two years in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in the Middle East aboard the USS Carl Vinson.

To help narrow down your search, we’ve broken down some of the best non-profits providing support for military families this Valentine’s Day. I sure wish I knew of these amazing organizations and their heartfelt programs back then!

Soldier’s Angels

Soldier’s Angels is a national non-profit that provides a wide range of support to deployed service members, Veterans, caregivers, and military families. The organization also has an annual initiative called Valentines for Veterans.

This program encourages volunteers across the country to make or send Valentine’s cards filled with heartfelt messages of gratitude and encouragement.

Once collected, Soldier’s Angels distributes the cards both to overseas service members as well as VA hospitals state-side. This program is a meaningful way for the military and civilian worlds alike to come together for a great cause in making sure our military community feels seen and valued.

Looking to help spread love to someone who deserves it most this Valentine’s Day? Cards can be mailed (with a requested $1 per card for postage) anytime prior to February 14th, 2026, to:

Soldiers’ Angels Valentines for Veterans
2895 NE Loop 410, Suite 107
San Antonio, Texas 78218

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Believe With Me

Losing a spouse in military service is a heartbreak that doesn’t end with November’s Veterans Day or Memorial Day. In fact, occasions like Valentine’s Day can make the absence feel even lonelier.

Believe With Me, through its American Sweetheart program, sends Valentine’s Day gifts to Gold Star widows: men and women whose spouses died in service to the nation.

The impact this initiative has had over the years is beyond measurable. Since its inception in 2015, with the help of over 300 volunteer ambassadors, the American Sweetheart program has delivered over $30,000 worth of care packages to over 3,500 widows as a small token of love and honor to those who continue their journeys without their life partners.

Student ambassadors help prepare and send these gifts, fostering intergenerational service and remembrance. The process to get gifts in hand to those who need them most is fairly straightforward:

1. Gold Star Spouses register on the America’s Sweetheart website.
2. Valentine’s Gifts are planned and sourced – usually by mid-January each year.
3. Volunteers gather to wrap, package, and mail gifts – usually in mid-late January.
4. Gifts are shipped to registered recipients.
5. You’ve got (Valentine’s Day) mail! Gold Star spouses feel the love.

For more information, to register as a recipient, donate, or learn more about how to get involved, be sure to check out the initiative website!

The Military Veteran Project

The Military Veteran Project, founded in 2012 by war widow Melissa Jarboe, is a 501(c)3 organization with a main mission to prevent military suicide through research, treatment, and hands-on case management. Part of fulfilling this important mission includes ensuring service members and their families do not feel forgotten or alone throughout the various holidays of the year. 

Around Valentine’s Day every year, the organization spearheads a program called Valentine’s for Veterans. This initiative invites supporters to design, donate, and distribute Valentine’s cards and gifts to Veterans and their families. The initiative highlights how Valentine’s Day can be an opportunity for gratitude, recognition, and communal care, not just a romantic celebration.

Founder Melissa Jarboe shared her perspective on her “why” for launching this impactful outreach:

“Every year, instead of focusing on what our family has lost the day Jamie made the ultimate sacrifice for our country, we are able to focus on the positive change we are able to make in veterans' lives around the world and in our local communities. Valentine’s Day is a day of expressing the love you have for someone special in your life, and I believe we can all agree that each and every one of our Veterans deserves to feel the love for the sacrifices that they and their families have made.”

Participating and giving back to Valentine’s for Veterans is simple and straightforward. Anyone can mail donations and/or cards to:

Military Veteran Project Office

3615 SW 29th Street

Suite 201

Topeka, KS 66614

Additional Creative Ways to Spread the Love This Valentine’s Day

Looking for more ideas for how you and your family can give back to the military community this Valentine’s Day? Here are a few more:

1. Participate and volunteer through local events in your community. Be sure to check out your local American Red Cross chapter websites for ideas!
2. Organize school or youth group service projects. Leverage your contacts and networks at local schools, churches, sports teams, and more. Collect Valentine’s cards and mail them to one of the above organizations for an even greater impact!
3. Simply check in. Checking in and showing up for those enduring a separation this holiday season means more to military families than most people know. Bring a meal, send a “thinking of you” text, or organize a play date for a family spending the upcoming day separated. Their sincere gratitude for these small but meaningful acts of kindness will surely make you feel the love right back in return!

Suggested reads:

• Where to Find Year-Round Military Discounts on Dining in 2026
• Not Another Movie Night: 15+ Fun Date Night Ideas For Military Couples
• The Hidden Toll of Being Married to a Military Recruiter