Food for Thought: Supporting Veterans through Local Partnerships
The Villages VA Outpatient Clinic’s Patriotic Pantry is proud to partner with The Community of Gratitude Emergency Food Center to collect and donate food and supplies to bridge the gap in food insecurity.
Through the generosity of The Villages VA staff, more than 1,100 pounds of donations have been delivered between November 2023 and February 2024.
During a recent visit by several VA staff members, Rick Elliot, president of the Community of Gratitude Emergency Food Center, happily led them on a tour of the facility. While the outside of the facility appears small and humble, the inside is packed with refrigerators, freezers, and shelves lining every wall and reaching from the floor to the ceiling.
Elliot, a Veteran himself, explained that he has been involved with this program for over three years. He is particularly proud that The Community of Gratitude Emergency Food Center is open three days a week whereas most other food banks can only operate once a week.
During their visit to the facility, the VA staff members also met Pat Reeves who volunteers regularly at the food center. Reeves, a Veteran as well, shared that he receives his care at The Villages OPC.
Reeves told VA staff that The Community of Gratitude Emergency Food Center had saved him and that he “just loves it.”
Elliot and Reeves both expressed their appreciation for the partnership with The Villages VA Outpatient Clinic. Additionally, The Villages OPC is thrilled to be partnering with them in providing much-needed assistance to our local Veterans and community.
The Community of Gratitude Emergency Food Center is operated by Elliot in addition to Executive Director Mindy Pappas, and numerous local volunteers. The food center is open Tuesdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon and Thursdays from 1–3 p.m. They serve more than one thousand rural families each month and reported that roughly 40% of those they serve are Veterans.