SPONSORED — For Brittney Hamilton, it all started with a T-shirt. Now, nearly 10 years after donating $20 in exchange for a shirt, Hamilton’s support of veterans has become a way of life.

“I come from a long family line of veterans so I have always had a deep respect for anyone who has (served) or is serving,” said Hamilton, who was recently named one of KIRO Radio’s and WSECU’s Hometown Heroes. “In 2007, several years after the wars had started, I was like many, feeling like I wanted to help but not knowing how.”

Hamilton attended an event to help support a friend’s band, where she met Deborah Semer, founder of Operation Ward 57, an organization that supports wounded, injured and ill service members, veterans, their caregivers and those who aid in their recovery. When she asked Semer how she could help, the answer was simple: buy a T-shirt.

“I remember thinking, ‘I can do that, and I can ask my friends to do that,’” Hamilton recalls. “It was a small gesture, but it was a direct way to help. That $20 would go directly to help a recovering service member in the hospital.”

Since that fateful day, Hamilton’s service has dwarfed her initial $20 donation. Now the executive director of Operation Ward 57, she works to help veterans who are wounded, injured and ill around the country.

“Our programs are designed to assist the service member lifelong in their recovery, from the moment they enter the hospital and as long as they need us once they have (been) discharged from service,” she explained.

Operation Ward 57 isn’t just about health care, either. While the organization focuses on helping veterans recover from illness and injury — either physical or mental — it also focuses on improving veteran morale and quality of life.

“Our programs provide comfort and morale items, financial assistance, peer mentorship, crisis care, case management, holiday cheer, morale-boosting events, service-animal support, an adopt-a-family program and more,” Hamilton said. “No request is too small or too big. If we are unable to provide assistance we will do our best to help the individual locate a program or nonprofit that can.”

Operation Ward 57 can’t do it alone, however. That’s why the organization partners with businesses, organizations, public figures, musicians and athletes to gain support and recognition of their mission and programs. Additionally, Hamilton stresses the need for volunteers who are looking to give back to veterans who have sacrificed so much for their country.

“Veterans need to feel connected with a community — to have a sense of purpose again,” she said. “Our communities need to embrace (their) veterans and get them involved.”

Getting involved is simple. Hamilton recommends heading to www.operationward57.org or following the group’s Facebook page to learn about volunteer opportunities. In November, the organization will launch its Adopt a Family program, allowing community members to “sponsor” a wounded warrior or gold-star family (a family that has lost immediate members in war or as a result of wartime injuries).

To Hamilton, being a “hometown hero” is just about taking care of the heroes in the community.

“Every day I witness Operation Ward 57 making a difference,” she said. “Veterans are safe and feel like they have a place to turn when they (need) assistance.”