Several companies are showing their support of veterans today and throughout the year through employment, charity donations and home restoration programs.

On this day, as we celebrate the brave men and women who protect our country, the sad reality is many veterans struggle to readjust to civilian life revealed a series of studies from the Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work. Among the multiple challenges facing veterans upon their return home, finding a job and maintaining a home are just a few. Door and window companies are doing their part to assist veterans through fundraising and career assistance programs.

Andersen officials pose with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz after being named a Yellow Ribbon Company. Photo provided by Andersen.

Last week, Andersen Corp. was recognized as a Yellow Ribbon Company for several of its programs which assist current service members, reserves, military families and veterans. Organized by the Minnesota Department of Military Affairs, also known as the Minnesota National Guard, the Beyond the Yellow Ribbon program aims to create awareness and connect service members and their families with community support, training, services and resources. The programs Andersen is recognized for include:

• A commitment to hire, retain and support employees in who serve in the reserves;
• Sponsorship of career events for people transitioning from active military duty to the civilian workforce;

• Creating support plans for deployed employees and their families;
• Providing pay differential above legal requirements for employees who are active in the armed forces;
• Donating $25,000 to the Youth Service Bureau in support of its new Military Family Support Program;
• Engaging with veteran-owned businesses and work to include diversity in its supply chain; and
• Focusing on aiding veterans’ support nonprofit organizations.

“We are proud of our employees who serve or have served in the military and we look forward to welcoming more service members and veterans to cultivate long careers with Andersen,” says Jay Lund, chairman and CEO.

Another door and window company took a less conventional route to support veterans at the beginning of this month when it hosted a “pie-to-the-face” event to raise money. MI Windows in Gratz, Pa., hosted an event in partnership with the Gratz Outreach committee where team members could donate money for the chance to toss pie into others’ faces. The event raised over $4,000 and will be used to pay for veterans’ meals today.

For veterans who need their own doors and windows, the non-profit Rebuilding Together is teaming up with retailer Sears’  as part of the Heroes at Home initiative that helps veterans, active military members and their families by making critical home repairs including replacing and repairing doors and windows.

Over the past 12 years, the program has raised $25.5 million, served 20,310 military members and donated over 300,000 hours to helping repair veterans’ homes.

Window World has shown its support for veterans in several ways this year; with the launch of the Careers for Heroes veteran-hiring platform that began in August, the partnership with the Veterans Airlift Command which flies injured veterans and their families together, and the several outreach programs for veterans in the local community that the company organizes. All this has earned the company a spot on the 150 Top Franchises for Veterans list this year which is a part of Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 listings. The list ranks franchises based on which companies offer the best opportunities for veterans interested in becoming franchisees.