For more than two decades, Soldiers’ Angels has stood beside Service Members, Veterans, and their families meeting urgent needs while restoring dignity, stability, and hope. Today, one of the fastest-growing and most critical areas of our work is food assistance.

As economic pressures continue to rise, far too many Military-connected families face difficult choices between paying bills and putting nutritious meals on the table. That reality has made food support an essential part of our mission. Food insecurity remains a serious challenge within the Military community. Soldiers’ Angels has responded by expanding food assistance efforts nationwide—providing millions of pounds of food each year to families who need it most. In 2024 alone, we supported more than 49,000 military and Veteran families with over 1 million pounds of food, making Soldiers’ Angels the largest provider of food exclusively to Veterans in the United States.

This work is grounded in a simple belief: No one who served our country should have to worry about their next meal.

Soldiers’ Angels Food Pantries

One of the ways we are deepening our impact is through the expansion of our Food Pantry program. These distributions typically take place once a week* and provide reliable, ongoing access to fresh, healthy groceries for Service Members, Veterans, and their families.

Current and emerging locations include:

• Charlotte/Salisbury, North Carolina
• Detroit, Michigan
• San Antonio, Texas
• Atlanta, Georgia (coming soon)
• West Palm Beach, Florida (coming soon)

*Schedule varies by location.

Beyond simply providing food, these events are designed to create a welcoming environment that fosters connection and community in each city they serve. When participants arrive, they are paired with a volunteer who serves as a personal shopper. Instead of receiving a pre-packed bag of food, families are able to choose the foods that best fit their needs, preferences, and dietary restrictions. This approach ensures that the support provided is practical but respectful.

At the Charlotte-area launch, pre-registered Veterans and Service Members were invited to “shop” for groceries in a setting designed to feel welcoming and supportive, reinforcing the idea that assistance should never come at the cost of dignity.

Continuing a Legacy of Large-Scale Food Support

While Food Pantries offer a more personalized experience, they are just one part of our comprehensive food assistance strategy. We host monthly drive-through food distribution events that provide fresh produce, meats, and pantry items to Service Members and Veterans.

Locations include:

• Atlanta
• Charleston
• Cincinnati
• Dallas
• Denver
• Orlando
• San Antonio
• Washington, D.C.

At these events, participants typically receive around 75 pounds of food—enough to provide up to two weeks of meals for a family of four. Depending on the location, each distribution supports 150–300 families every month. These large-scale efforts ensure consistent, reliable access to essential groceries for thousands of Military-connected households.

Meeting Immediate Needs: Box Lunches and VA Gift Cards

For low-income, homeless, or at-risk Veterans facing urgent or daily challenges, Soldiers’ Angels provides direct meal support through additional programs in partnership with VAs across the country.

• Box Lunches delivers non-perishable meals at VA facilities and Stand Down events nationwide.
• VA Cafeteria Gift Cards help Veterans access a hot meal during medical appointments or after fasting for treatments.

These initiatives ensure that even in moments of crisis or transition, Veterans receive both nourishment and compassionate care.

Expanding the Mission—One Meal at a Time

From large-scale food distributions to neighborhood food pantries and individual meal support, Soldiers’ Angels is building a comprehensive safety net designed to meet Veterans and Service Members wherever they are. Each pantry shelf stocked, each distribution hosted, and each meal provided represents more than food—it represents gratitude, respect, and a promise kept.

As Soldiers’ Angels continues expanding food assistance programs into new communities, the goal remains clear:

No Veteran, Service Member, or military family should ever go hungry.

Through partnerships, volunteers, and supporters across the country, Soldiers’ Angels will continue nourishing those who once stood ready to serve us all.

About the Author

Ashley Ray has been a member of the Soldiers’ Angels communications team since 2013. She supports blog writing and social media and loves telling stories of Angel volunteers, Service Members, and Veterans.

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