Feeding the Fight Against Hunger

This event was designed to share awareness of food insecurities within our Veteran population and come together with community partners to provide a resource to those affected. Registered Dietitian, Cristina Elizondo and Social Worker, Amber Miracle joined forces to plan and make this event a success. “Food insecurity is not having access to nutritious foods, it’s not having food at one time,” Elizondo said.  “The goal is to reach as many Veterans as possible who may feel that they do not have the resources to sustainable food and inform them of the support we can provide.” Over 170 Veterans lined up outside the Polytrauma Courtyard at the Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans Hospital to register for the event and learn more.

Many organizations within the South Texas region such as the San Antonio Food Bank, Meals for VETS, and the City of San Antonio’s Department of Human & Senior Services came out to support the cause. A total of 15 community partners set up tables within the courtyard and provided resourceful information on their companies’ support to Veterans who may have issues getting food. Amongst those partners, Catholic Charities loaded their truck with bags of produce and non-perishable food items and delivered them to the Audie L. Murphy campus to give to its Veterans. Additionally, Conviva Care Center was in attendance and gave out bags of fresh produce that included carrots, cabbage, mixed-color bell peppers, tomatoes, and zucchini. The San Antonio Food Bank also assisted with submitting five Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) applications and handed out over 150 bags of groceries to its Veterans.

During the event, South Texas VA’s Healthy Teaching Kitchen (HTK) turned up the heat and conducted a live cooking demonstration, utilizing minimal, yet healthy ingredients to make a delicious family meal. Many Veterans sat down and listened in as Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, Tamara Sugarek and Clinical Dietetic Technician; Stephanie Lane discussed meals that can prepared using things already in your pantry. Sugarek runs the HTK program for the South Texas Veterans Health Care System (STVHCS) and explained the practical application that it provides.  “This program provides education with hands-on cooking techniques that create a supportive environment for Veterans to learn and take the skills back to their home and cook independently for their families,” Sugarek said.

Two Veterans, Joesph McDonald, and Robert Moya had the opportunity to speak during the event on their journeys with their nutritional health and food insecurities. Veterans are often the first to help others but may find it hard to ask for help themselves. At times it can be tougher for Veterans to accept or ask for help. Mr. McDonald and Moya encouraged their peers in the crowd to speak up and seek health within South Texas VA if they feel that they struggle with food insecurity.

Amongst the two Veteran guest speakers, Feds Feeding Families South Texas VA Chair, Richard Razis, provided remarks on the progress the campaign has made. “The South Texas VA rejoined the Feds Feeding Families Campaign in 2021 and has since provided over 40,000 meals. This year, South Texas has currently provided 12,643.8 meals, with more donations to add to those totals,” Razis said. The National Feds Feeding Families Campaign has exceeded nine million pounds of donated food, with the US Department of Veterans Affairs bringing in 102,612 pounds of donated food. “The South Texas VA is adding to those totals with the collaboration of our local partners at the San Antonio and Golden Crescent Food Banks,” Razis added. “We make this goal happen as we focus on ‘One Team and One Village’ to help end hunger, one meal at a time.”

This is only the beginning of the Nutrition and Food service fighting against food hunger and insecurities. The South Texas Veterans Health Care System sends special thanks to its community partners who participated and contributed to the mission of caring for our nation’s heroes. For more general information on nutrition and food resources available at the South Texas VA, Veterans can contact the Nutrition & Food Service direct scheduling line at 210-949-3995.