One in nine working-age veterans will face food insecurity this Thanksgiving. Nourishing America.
Among the thousands of veterans surveyed in the Veterans Aging Cohort Study at Yale University School of Medicine, 24% reported feeling food insecure.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture defines food insecurity as “household-level economic and social conditions in which access to adequate food is limited or uncertain.”
“Veterans come to us because their credit cards have been overcharged, their cars have been repossessed, their cars have been repossessed, or they've been kicked out of their homes,” said Retired Air Force Lt. Col. and America's Warrior.・AWP CEO Jim Lorraine told FOX News Digital. “It's the economy.”
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Marines eat dinner during a Thanksgiving celebration at Camp Pendleton, Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023, in San Clemente, California. Marines from the 5th Marine Regiment were hosted by the 5th Marine Regiment Support Group at Dana Point. (Paul Bersebach/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images)
Lorraine said the most affected veterans are those on fixed income or severely disabled veterans on fixed income.
He served nine combat deployments as a flight nurse and retired as a lieutenant colonel and deputy surgeon general in the U.S. Special Operations Forces after 22 years of service. He is currently caring for his wife, who is also a military veteran. This holiday season, he challenges others to ask themselves how they can give back.
“Veterans are 90% more likely to volunteer than their non-military counterparts,” he said, adding that non-profits are helping people learn about AWP to help them stay ahead of crises they may face. He asked veterans to tell them how they can help.
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Thanksgiving meal with turkey and all the side dishes on the table. (Adobe Stock)
He also suggested how people can support this cause.
“Whether it's by donating a turkey or canned goods at checkout, or by going to your local American Legion or VWF hosting an event,” Lorraine said. “Please live according to your heart.”
The Air Force veteran believes the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has made strides in supporting veterans, but only about 50% of our nation's 17.5 million veterans are registered with VA. He said that it was no more than .
Volunteers serve plates filled with all the traditional Thanksgiving foods at the Long Beach Rescue Mission on Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023 in Long Beach, California. (Brittany Murray/Media News Group/Long Beach Press Telegram via Getty Images)
of Also found in the National Library of Medicine Veterans who suffer from food insecurity are nearly four times more likely to suffer from suicidal thoughts than those who are economically stable. The same veterans who struggle to put food on the table may also be affected by transition challenges, limited employment opportunities, inadequate transition education, and difficulty applying military skills to civilian roles. There is.
Despite all of this, Lorraine continues to serve in the U.S. military.
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“I think the military is a great way forward” for young people who don't have the opportunity for higher education, he said. “I joined the military. It changed my life.”
AWP just celebrated its 10th anniversary, and over the years the nonprofit organization has helped approximately 61,000 veterans across the country. For more information on the resources provided, please visit click here.
