Uniting to Combat Hunger
Veterans Face Food Insecurity During COVID-19 Pandemic
For families already struggling to put food on the table the COVID-19 pandemic has had a far-reaching impact on Americans across the country, ranging from job loss to food insecurity. Not being able to have access to enough nutritionally adequate foods to live an active and healthy life is something no one should have to worry about, including our nation’s service men and women.
Defined as a lack of consistent access to enough food for every person in a household to live an active, healthy life, food insecurity is a problem that affects 1 in 8 people in America, and 25 percent of active-duty military and Reserve members have had to rely on food bank donations to feed their families. The VFW and Humana think this is completely unacceptable, and we need YOUR help supporting the "Uniting to Combat Hunger" (UTCH) campaign to fight food insecurity and strike a knock-out blow against hunger for good.
The pandemic and social-distancing guidelines have made it increasingly difficult to host food drives or fresh food harvesting gleanings, so this year we are teaming up with Feeding America®, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization, to raise donations for local Feeding America member food banks. Every dollar donated to Feeding America helps provide at least 10 meals to people facing hunger! Donate today!
Our goal for 2021 is to help provide 1 MILLION MEALS*!!!
Your UTCH donation will be directed to your nearest local Feeding America member food bank, ensuring those facing hunger in your own community will get the help they need.
How Did UTCH Start?
Food insecurity is a societal issue that affects 1 in 8 people in the United States. This is a serious issue that also plagues our nation’s service men and women, as research shows 25 percent of the nation’s total active duty and reserve personnel seeks aid from food pantries and other charitable programs across the country.
Defined as the lack of access to enough nutritionally adequate foods to live an active, healthy life, food insecurity contributes to:
- Serious health complications, especially when people facing hunger are forced to choose between spending money on food and medicine or medical care.
- Damage to a child's ability to learn and grow.
- Difficult decisions for seniors - often living on fixed incomes - such as choosing between paying for food and critical healthcare.
This is why the VFW and Humana are "Uniting to Combat Hunger" through a collaborative campaign designed to raise awareness and fight food insecurity across the country.
Additional Information and Resources
Last year, UTCH donors and volunteers came together to blow our 500,000 meal goal out of the water. Despite a worldwide pandemic, we successfully helped provide over 1 million meals to VA food banks across the country.
This incredible success has encouraged us to up-the-ante and launch the 2021 UTCH campaign with a goal of providing 1,000,000 meals. We know it won’t be easy, but with the help of caring volunteers and donors, VFW and VFW Auxiliary members and Humana team members, it can be done.
We’re asking for your help to make this dream a reality by viewing and sharing the applicable materials on this page. VFW Posts and Humana offices are highly encouraged to collaborate, and members of both organizations can sign up to host their own campaign here.
When your VFW Post or Auxiliary raises money for UTCH, your Post may also qualify to receive funding through a UTCH Matching Grant! These grant funds can be used by your Post or Auxiliary wherever the need is greatest. Get more information or apply for a UTCH Grant here.
We look forward to this challenge and serving those in need. For more information, please contact us at foundation@vfw.org.
