The First Annual Food Security Resource Fair Helps Veterans Access Healthy Food

At this event, VA and community partners gathered at the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center to connect Veterans with resources to address the food insecurity health crisis in the Greater Los Angeles area. 

“We understand Greater Los Angeles has one of the largest populations of housing insecure and food insecure Veterans, and given the cost of living in our city, we recognize the importance of connecting Veterans with these resources in order to live a healthful life in Los Angeles,” said Jennifer Allen, Whole Health Program Manager at VAGLAHS.

Los Angeles is the second most expensive city in the U.S to live in for 2024, according to U.S. News and World Report rankings, and like many Angelenos, the high cost of living can make it a struggle for Veterans to get enough nutritious food for themselves and their families. According to VA statistics, Los Angeles is home to the largest population of food insecure Veterans in the VA Enterprise. 

The Veterans Health Administration Food Security Office defines “food insecurity” as a lack of consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life or a household-level economic and social condition of limited or uncertain access to adequate food​. Food security impacts a broad scope of health-related issues such as type 2 diabetes, obesity, hypertension, mental health, and certain cancers, according to the VHA Food Security Office.

According to the 2021 study, “Risk for Depression and Suicidal Ideation Among Food Insecure US Veterans: Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Study,” Veterans with food insecurity are associated with increased depression symptoms and suicidal ideation. 

The Supervisory Dietitian at VAGLAHS, Shari Kushins-Moore, said, “Food security is a basic need and such a foundational part of health care. If someone doesn’t know where their next meal is coming from or someone can’t afford groceries for half the month, how do we expect them to do anything? To make it their appointments on time, to take their medication, to sleep, to take care of themselves, and to take care of their families?” 

“This event is about addressing food insecurity more holistically with wraparound services for Veterans at VA and in the community,” said Allen. VAGLAHS also established an interdisciplinary Food Security Committee in October 2023 in a larger effort to reduce the number of Veterans struggling with access to healthy food. 

At the fair, Veterans could get screened by Nursing, or speak with the many VAGLAHS programs in attendance, including but not limited to, Whole Health, Nutrition and Food Services, Women’s Health Program, Social Work, Homeless Patient Aligned Care Team (HPACT), HUD-VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program, the Welcome Center, Speech and Audiology, and the Domiciliary. 

“We have screened nearly 10,000 more Veterans for food insecurity than last year, with positivity rates remaining about the same,” said Allen. “We wanted to put together VA and community resources for food insecure Veterans and for employees to empower them to screen more.”

Additionally, at the event Veterans could engage with resources in the community for home meal delivery services, such as Project Angel Food, Meals on Meals West and Meals on Wheels West Los Angeles. 

The Department of Public Social Services were also in attendance, signing up Veterans onsite for CalFresh (formerly known as Food Stamps) and SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program). Additionally, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), the Westside Food Bank, and the Vet Center were there to speak with Veterans, answer their questions, and provide information. 

The West LA VA Medical Center also hosts a weekly food distribution for Veterans on campus. Every Wednesday from noon to 1 p.m. between Bldg. 500 and 402, Veterans can come and get access to fresh, free food, some of which was grown at the Veteran’s Garden on campus. 

Veterans can also get produce and some non-perishables at The Bandini Foundation’s Heroes Golf Course Food Distribution events held Mondays and Tuesdays, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., except holidays, when the event will be rescheduled for Tuesday of that week at building 329 at the West LA VA Medical Center campus. For more information on these events please call 310-473-0710. 

“It is vital that we work collaboratively across the Nation to address food insecurity among Veterans,” said Jason Melton, Executive Officer, VHA Food Security Office. 

Melton and fellow Food Security Office colleague, Megan Bowman, National Nutrition Food Security Program Coordinator, attended the fair in a show of VHA national support for VAGLAHS’s food security initiatives. 

“The pioneering work being done here sets a powerful example for the entire VA healthcare system,” said Melton.

If you are a Veteran experiencing food insecurity, please reach out to your provider, social worker, or dietitian. To learn more about food security resources for greater Los Angeles Veterans, please visit www.va.gov/greater-los-angeles-health-care/programs/whole-health/food-security-resources/