Veterans News

Fighting Veteran Hunger

By John Amen, PGER and ENVSC Chair

As you know the Elks support of our Veterans goes back over one hundred years, even preceding the formation of the Elks National Veterans Service Commission 75 years ago. While we have exhibited great success in helping those who have served, the mission continues to have much work to be accomplished before we can rest on our laurels.

One area that receives little publicity is chronic hunger among our Veterans. The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) defines food insecurity as a lack of access to sufficient food to support and sustain a healthy lifestyle. A study completed in 2021 by another federal agency, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, found that from 2015 through 2019 more than 11% of all “working age” Veterans - that is Vets between the ages of 18 and 64 – live in food-insecure households. It is clear that food security is critical for the well-being of our Veterans.

Our government has stated that food insecurity is a problem that impacts 1 in 8 people in our country, and further, one-fourth of active-duty military and Reserve members have had to rely on food bank donations to help feed their families.

A recent survey by the Blue Star Families organization identified that 14% of active-duty household respondents reported facing difficulty putting adequate food on the table during the previous year.

What can we as Elks do? We can implement programs that many Lodges are already doing in their communities. Here are a few suggestions as to how our Elk members can help.

• Support your local food pantry to help local Veterans get access to healthy food.
• Expand or initiate your local food basket program to be especially diligent in including community Veterans this year.
• Volunteer at VA food pantries. Be sure to wear Elk apparel when you do.
• Donate food and proceeds of your fundraisers to Veteran housing facilities and shelters.

These are only a few of the many things we do in support of our long-standing tradition of living up to our motto: “As long as there are Veterans, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks will never forget them.”

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