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A-peel to Serve: Army Veteran Turns Homeless Garden Harvest Into Heartwarming Help

U.S. Army Veteran Daymon Jones making apple sauce from apples he harvested from the VA Providence HPACT community garden.
U.S. Army Veteran Daymon Jones making apple sauce from apples he harvested from the VA Providence HPACT community garden.

By Justyn Charon, Public Affairs Specialist

U.S. Army Veteran Daymon Jones is finding a meaningful way to support his fellow Veterans by transforming a surplus of apples from the HPACT Community Garden into wholesome, homemade applesauce.

Working closely with the Homeless Patient Aligned Care Team, Jones has created more than a nutritious treat—he has created a moment of connection, care, and community.

The apples come from trees planted over a decade ago as part of a national initiative to address food insecurity among Veterans. For more than eleven years, the VA Providence's community garden has offered Veterans the opportunity to supplement their diets with fresh fruits and vegetables, while also serving as a space for healing, learning, and camaraderie.

Jones’ applesauce effort continues that mission. By sharing garden-grown ingredients turned into something warm and welcoming, he is helping bridge nutrition gaps and supporting Veterans who may be short on food. His work stands as a quiet but powerful reminder of what can grow—literally and figuratively—when Veterans support one another.