This Veteran’s Day, we’re taking a moment to reflect on the importance of supporting those who have served our country. As part of our commitment to giving back to the community and honoring our veterans, MightyMeals was honored to participate in and donate breakfast to the runners of the Feed a Veteran 5K on Saturday, November 9, 2024. This meaningful event, held at Old Hickory Golf Course in Woodbridge, VA, brought together community members and partners to help homeless veterans in D.C. by providing hot meals, winter survival kits, and critical resources.

The Mission Behind the Feed a Veteran 5K

In D.C., over 500 homeless veterans live on the streets or in temporary housing, facing harsh winters with limited support. The Feed a Veteran 5K was organized to address this urgent need, raising funds to supply these veterans with hot food, essential survival kits, and even suicide prevention resources through the dedicated work of United Soldiers and Sailors of America (USASOA). After the race, participants and volunteers joined together to assemble sandwiches and soup, which were then delivered directly to veterans in need.

A Day of Giving Back

The event was truly inspiring, with over 227 participants coming together to run a collective 638 miles in support of our veterans. Together, we raised $25,322, which will go toward ongoing initiatives to support homeless and at-risk veterans.

After the race, participants and volunteers took part in hands-on activities to directly impact the lives of those in need:

• 550 meals (including 880 sandwiches and 550 soups) were assembled and distributed by 12 p.m. on race day.
• 125 winter survival kits containing essential items like gloves, blankets, hygiene supplies, and more were packed and are staged for distribution throughout the winter months.
• 12,000 holiday cards were sorted to be sent to our deployed service members, bringing a touch of home to those currently serving abroad.

 

A Personal Impact

For many, the event went beyond simply running or volunteering. John, one of the dedicated members of the USASOA team, shared a powerful story from the food deliveries on race day. When he handed two sandwiches and a bowl of soup to a senior veteran who had not eaten in two days, the veteran was moved to tears. It was a poignant reminder of the immediate difference events like this can make.

Thank You to Our Community

MightyMeals would like to thank everyone who supported this cause, from the participants and volunteers to our amazing partners like USASOA and Coconuts & Kettlebells. Together, we helped make a real impact in the lives of those who have sacrificed so much for our country.

This Veteran’s Day, we encourage our community to remember and support those who have served. We’re grateful to be part of a cause that directly aids our local veterans in such a meaningful way.