ORLANDO, Fla. | October 15, 2026 | Soldiers’ Angels celebrated the opening of its Lake Nona Food Pantry at the Lake Nona VA Medical Center in Orlando, Florida Thursday, Oct. 22. In partnership with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the newest Soldiers’ Angels Food Pantry puts food assistance in the same building where many Veterans receive their healthcare, reducing barriers to food support programs.

According to Feeding America, more than 225,000 Orange County, Florida, residents experienced food insecurity in 2024. Nationally, one-in-four post-9/11 Veterans and one-in-six military families experience food insecurity. The Lake Nona VA Food Pantry will serve Orlando-area Veterans facing these challenges.

During the event, pre-registered Veteran families will receive groceries and pantry staples in a dignified, welcoming environment. Soldiers’ Angels volunteers will be on-site to assist participants and create connection and community. Veterans can learn more and register at soldiersangels.org/get-support/food-assistance/orlando.

This is the first food pantry Soldiers’ Angels has ever opened inside a VA facility — a sign of unity in the organizations’ mission to end military food insecurity.

With this pantry established, Soldiers’ Angels deepens its efforts to combat Veteran food insecurity in Orlando. Since 2019, the organization has held monthly Military and Veteran Food Distributions (MVFD) at the Lake Baldwin VA Clinic, supplying military-connected families with, on average, 75 lbs. of groceries monthly. Earlier in 2026, Soldiers’ Angels opened another Food Pantry in Orlando at their regional office, 711 West Amelia St, Orlando, FL  32805, serving active-duty, Guard, and Reserve Service Members in addition to Veterans.

“For more than seven years, Soldiers’ Angels has supported Orlando-area Veterans, Service Members, and their families,” said Air Force Veteran Amy Palmer, President and CEO of Soldiers’ Angels. “This new pantry at the Lake Nona VA Medical Center demonstrates our resolve in the fight against military food insecurity in Orlando and nationwide. Our Veterans and Service Members should not struggle to put food on the table.”

The Soldiers’ Angels food pantry model allows participants to “shop” for the items they need most, promoting dignity while providing reliable access to nutritious food. The pantry complements the organization’s monthly MFVDs by offering a consistent source of food assistance throughout the month. Veterans interested in receiving support must register in advance to create a food profile with Soldiers’ Angels.

In 2025, Soldiers’ Angels expanded its Food Distribution Program to include permanent food pantry locations, offering a more consistent and accessible source of groceries for the military-connected community.

The first Soldiers’ Angels food pantry opened in Michigan with support from the Detroit Pistons, followed by a second location in Charlotte, North Carolina, supported by the Charlotte Hornets Foundation. Since then, the program has expanded to San Antonio, made possible through support from Boeing, and subsequently to Atlanta, demonstrating the transformative impact of community and corporate partnerships in addressing food insecurity nationwide. In August 2026, Soldiers’ Angels opened a food pantry at its new Orlando office, bringing this critical resource to Central Florida for the first time. Other food pantry and distribution locations include Atlanta, Ga.; Charleston, S.C.; Cincinnati, Ohio; Denver, Colo.; San Antonio and Dallas, Texas.

Soldiers’ Angels is recognized as the largest food provider exclusively to military and Veteran families in the United States.

Interested in supporting a Soldiers’ Angels food pantry? We are actively seeking community and corporate partners for future pantry initiatives. Learn how you or your organization can help expand access to nutritious food for Service Members, Veterans, and military families facing food insecurity. Visit soldiersangels.org/get-support/food-assistance to learn more about volunteer and sponsorship opportunities.

 

About Soldiers’ Angels: Founded in 2003 by the family of General George Patton, Soldiers’ Angels is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides aid, comfort, and resources to the Military, Veterans, and their families. Through a global network of volunteers, the organization supports tens of thousands of Service Members, Veterans, wounded heroes, and Military families annually through various programs, including food assistance, deployed support, and holiday initiatives. Soldiers’ Angels currently maintains a presence in multiple states across the country and supports Military communities worldwide. For more information, visit soldiersangels.org (Tax ID# 20-0583415, CFC# 25131).

May No Soldier Go Unloved | May No Soldier Walk Alone | May No Soldier Be Forgotten | Even After They Come Home™

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