A Year of Serving Those Who Served
By Gary S, Hatrick
Ernie Smith and LeeAnne Starcher had a lot to be thankful for July 11 as their Vets Feeding Vets program celebrated one year of honoring veterans by providing weekly groceries free of charge.
Each week since July 2024, Smith and Starcher have gathered meat, produce, and snacks together at the former Health Department building owned by AMVETS Post 550 at the end of Airport Road in Zephyrhills, preparing for Friday pick-up when veterans of all stripes and brass will come to pick up their groceries.
Veterans can come and select snacks and produce, and receive a selection of meats, typically including chicken, beef, and other types of sausage or lunchmeat. They can also get some food for their pets if they can use it.
It is a dream come true for Executive Director Smith and Assistant Executive Director Starcher.
Smith recalls how it all started. Smith, the finance officer of the AMVETS post, was involved in a brainstorming session about what to do with the old health department building that had come into the post's possession.
"We, all of us officers, were trying to decide what we're gonna do at this building. I woke up at three o'clock in the morning, home and said, 'I know what to do with this building.'" He awoke and called Starcher. "I think I called her at 5:30 or 6 in the morning and asked,' Can you meet me for breakfast? I got an idea.' I told her my idea, and we sat down and we just kind of discussed how we'd do it."
Smith took the idea to the AMVETS membership. "The building was sitting vacant," he reasoned. "And it's an old building, right? It's sure to fall apart, so why not utilize it? The program is for veterans anyway."
The result was the membership approved and directed Smith to clean the facility and start the organization called Vets Feeding Vets.
"They were for it, and that's how it began, and me and her [Starcher] have just run it since then," Smith said,
The building was full of furniture when they started. It took a month to take all the furniture out and get rid of some four-year-old canned food left in the building. After having been empty for quite a while, it was dusty and dirty. Starcher scrubbed it top to bottom, and soon it was ready. The first meals were handed out on July 12, 2024.
While associated with the AMVETS Post 550 it is not a part of the organization. "Vets Feeding Vets is a whole separate business," Smith said. "A business all its own. AMVETS has a lot to do with it, because I go over there and they let me do meat raffles and I sell T-shirts. Meat raffles are like standard raffles, but the prize is a selection of meats.
Vets Feeding Vets started with about 35 participants a year ago and has grown to about 180. The only requirement to be involved is that you be a veteran, although first responders are also included in the list of eligible participants.
At first, some veterans hesitated to come. "There are a lot of proud veterans who, at first, didn't want to come here," Smith said. "I told them, it's not a give out, it's a dinner out, it's a movie, it's a golf game, it's a weekend. You know, God forbid the air conditioner goes or something goes wrong with the car. It's just to give back something to you from citizens who are proud and are honored that you served."
"Now they come every week," Smith continued. "They love it, and I told them if they have a neighbor that's down and out, give them something or come get an application for him, verify his military ID, and take him a bag, because there are a lot of them like that."
Vets Feeding Vets is a non-profit organization relying on donations and sponsorship to keep the program viable. Each week, they purchase meat and visit produce markets to buy wholesale. It is a time-consuming and cash-consuming project. Currently, they need about $1,200 per week. They also rely on volunteers to help prepare for Fridays and to help dispense the food bags.
Fridays are well organized. Each veteran is given a cloth bag in which to carry their food home. They are instructed to bring it back with them when they return. While they choose produce items and snacks, the bags are filled with the meats available. Most times, there are some loose snacks like doughnuts available to eat and outside some vendors are on hand to offer services to seniors. Among them, Humana, one of the main sponsors of the Vets Feeding Vets.
Starcher said they do what they do by God's grace. "He just keeps blessing us," she acknowledges, admitting that at first they weren't sure they would make it. Now, she noted the organization has been nominated for Non-Profit of the Year at the East Pasco Chamber of Commerce 63rd Annual Membership Appreciation & Community Awards to be held August 28 at Dan Cannon Auditorium on the Pasco County Fairgrounds in Dade City.
The Vets Feeding Vets program runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. each Friday. Any veteran can register to receive a bag. If you would like to donate to the Vets Feeding Vets Program, you can send the donation to 4717 Airport Rd. Zephyrhills, FL 33542. If you have questions or would like to be involved as a veteran or a volunteer, call (813) 602-8115 or (813) 782-8102.
