More Than 30,000 Pledges Show the Power of Connection During Buddy Check Week

Sometimes connection starts with something simple: a text, a phone call or an invitation to grab a cup of coffee.

During Buddy Check Week 2026, thousands of people across the country turned those small actions into a powerful show of support for the veteran community.

In September, 30,780 individuals took the pledge to check in with 10 veterans in their lives, demonstrating the impact that can be possible when people come together around a shared commitment to connection.

This year marked the third year Face the Fight® and Starbucks Coffee Company teamed up in support of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Buddy Check Week. Together, Face the Fight and Starbucks encouraged people to take the training, make the pledge and reach out to veterans in their lives.

The response exceeded expectations. Starbucks initially committed to providing $10 gift cards to the first 20,000 people who took the pledge, expanding on its commitment from the previous year. As participation grew, Starbucks increased that commitment again, ultimately providing 23,000 gift cards to help make those conversations possible.

Building on a Growing Movement

Each year, Buddy Check Week offers a reminder that everyone can play a role in supporting the veterans in their lives.

Last year, more than 20,000 people participated in check-ins, resulting in more than 200,000 connections. This year’s 30,780 pledges demonstrate continued momentum around a simple but important idea: meaningful connection starts with reaching out.

Face the Fight coalition members helped carry that message into their own communities, sharing Buddy Check Week resources, personalizing content for their audiences and encouraging more people to participate.

That collective effort is at the heart of Face the Fight. More than 300 organizations have joined together to help dramatically reduce veteran suicide by breaking stigma, expanding access to proven solutions and building a culture where seeking help is a sign of strength.

Keep Checking In

Buddy Check Week may be over, but checking in shouldn’t. 

You don’t need the perfect words or a special occasion to reach out to a veteran in your life. And remember, families, caregivers and survivors need connection and support, too. Ask how someone is doing. Send the text you’ve been meaning to send. Make the call. Invite someone to coffee. And most importantly, take the time to listen.

One conversation may lead to another. One check-in can help strengthen a relationship. And thousands of individual acts of connection can help build a community where veterans, service members, their families, caregivers, and survivors know they are supported and never left to fight alone.