HUD Jacksonville Team Helps With Food Distribution at VA Medical Clinic

Volunteers from HUD's Jacksonville office joined partner organizations to distribute food to low income families and homeless veterans on November 5th Jacksonville's Veteran Affairs Medical Clinic was the site for food distribution to approximately 200 low income families and homeless veterans. Jacksonville's Veteran Affairs Medical Clinic was the site for food distribution to approximately 200 low income families and homeless veterans. Jacksonville's Veteran Affairs Medical Clinic was the site for food distribution to approximately 200 low income families and homeless veterans.

On November 5, 2019, members of the HUD Jacksonville team joined other volunteers from several local organizations distributing food to over 200 low income residents and homeless veterans at the Jacksonville VA Medical Clinic. This frequent food distribution community event was sponsored and coordinated by the Jacksonville Vet Center in partnership with Farm Share, the U.S. Veterans Administration and Jacksonville's Military Affairs and Veterans Department.

Our nation's veterans have served and sacrificed for our freedom. Many are returning from war and duty to face economic uncertainties and struggle with injuries, both physical and mental. Too many Veterans are ending up jobless and homeless; too many are going hungry. This and other events are planned for the coming year to give back to these men and women who have given so much for our nation.

The HUD-Jacksonville office is also collaborating with community-based homeless service providers to help serve area veterans at periodic National Coalition for Homeless Veterans-sponsored "Stand Downs" - - one to three day events providing supplies and services to homeless veterans, such as food, shelter, clothing, health screenings and VA Social Security benefits counseling in addition to referrals to other assistance such as health care, housing solutions, employment, substance use treatment and mental health counseling.

Farm Share was established in 1991 based on the simple idea to distribute fresh food Free of Charge to families, children, seniors and individuals in need throughout Florida. Their mission is to alleviate hunger and fight poverty by recovering and distributing healthy and nutritious fruits, vegetables, proteins and other non-perishable food to families, children, seniors and individuals in need. This simple but innovative idea has now grown into an organization that feeds tens of millions of people and distributes more than 55 million pounds of healthy and nutritious food annually.

U.S. Veterans Administration mission is to fulfill President Lincoln's promise "To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan" by serving and honoring the men and women who are America's veterans and provide veterans the world-class benefits and services they have earned - and to do so by adhering to the highest standards of compassion, commitment, excellence, professionalism, integrity, accountability, and stewardship.

Jacksonville VA Clinic service officers involve important matters like helping a Veteran get outpatient treatment or gain admission for inpatient care at a VA medical center. They assist Veterans and their families in filing for VA disability compensation, rehabilitation and education programs, pension and death benefits, employment and training programs, and many other programs.

Jacksonville Vet Center provides counseling, outreach and referral services for veterans struggling to reacclimate to post-duty life.

For more information on resources for veterans, please visit: www.hudexchange.info/homelessness-assistance/resources-for-homeless-veterans.

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