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“Thank you for all that you do and for being so concerned about veterans.” – Veteran Food Pantry Recipient.

Since the opening of the veterans-focused food pantry at the Bath VA Finger Lakes Healthcare System in February 2024, the site has been serving about 250 individuals per month, shares Melissa Murrey, MS, RDN, CSG, FLX Clinical Nutrition Manager. She describes the site as being such a positive experience from the start. The food pantry is run by two volunteers, and the hospital-registered dietitians have taken on the responsibility of staffing the drive through pantry format.

Each veteran accessing the pantry gets to share their food preferences, and then the volunteers pack up the food and deliver it to their car on pickup days, which are scheduled twice a month on Fridays.

One US Marine Corps veteran explained that after working his whole life, the pantry has been great, and it really helps him have access to food. Also it helps with the grocery bill. He explained that the volunteers were generous with the food quantity and that he was very happy with the variety, especially enjoying items like oatmeal and walnuts. Lastly, he shares, “Veterans that need food should check it out.”

Another veteran comments, “I love this. It’s so easy. And I don’t feel embarrassed.”

You help this food pantry serve veterans who are at risk of hunger. If you or someone you know could receive help from this food pantry or one of the other over 140 locations in our six-county area, visit foodbankst.org/find-food or call 2-1-1 to find a location near you.

This article was part of our Spring 2025 Harvester newsletter, click here to view.