Since 2018, VFW has teamed up with Humana to establish the Uniting to Combat Hunger campaign. It remains a staple in fighting not only hunger, but also food insecurity across the country. VFW is proud to add a veteran homelessness component to the campaign.
VFW’s partnership with Humana has garnered more than 6 million meals for families in the United States. VFW and Humana are also alarmed at the number of active-duty troops and veterans who suffer from food insecurity — which is why the two organizations wanted to give healthy meals to needy Americans as part of Uniting to Combat Hunger.
Volunteers at the 126th VFW National Convention in Columbus, Ohio — the birthplace of the VFW — participated in the seventh-annual Uniting to Combat Hunger (UTCH) seed-sorting event, which aims to help families affected by food insecurity. The effort amassed more than 9,500 seed packets for distribution to VFW Posts and Auxiliaries, as well as community gardens across the country.
VFW Foundation Director of Donor Relations Richard Freiburghouse said the UTCH campaign exhibits VFW’s commitment to serving veterans and their communities by addressing one of the most pressing issues facing many veterans.
“The Uniting to Combat Hunger program is dedicated to addressing food insecurity and veteran homelessness in communities nationwide, while empowering our members to take action and create meaningful impact,” Freiburghouse said. “Our incredibly dedicated membership is uniquely equipped to drive local efforts that contribute to broader national change.”
A New Name for an Expanding Mission
A day after the seed-sorting event during VFW’s convention, then-VFW Commander-in-Chief Al Lipphardt and Cara Brown, director of Key Relationships for Humana’s MarketPoint, announced the joint decision to rename the program.
“While hunger and homelessness remain critical issues, we recognize the necessity to adapt our program to offer additional support as necessary,” Lipphardt said. “The Uniting for Veterans name change better suits our ever-expanding mission and dedication to provide responsive and comprehensive assistance through our Posts and Auxiliaries that truly adapts to the needs of our veterans and their families.”
On behalf of Humana, the VFW’s long-standing partner since UTCH’s inception in 2018, Brown expressed their shared enthusiasm for the program’s evolution. She added that in 2024 alone, UTCH raised more than 800,000 meals for those suffering from food insecurity and provided 325 nights of housing for homeless veterans.
“Since our partnership began, we have helped distribute more than 6 million meals together, an incredible milestone that reflects our commitment to our nation’s heroes,” Brown said. “Now the Uniting for Veterans program will allow us to address a wider spectrum of needs for our veterans.”
According to Feeding America, one in nine working-age veterans is food insecure. The organization also reports that about 24 percent of active-duty service members were food insecure in 2023, and about 1.2 million low-income veterans use the government’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
To learn more about the expanded Uniting for Veterans program, visit vfw.org/UnitingforVeterans.
Food Insecurity by the Numbers
- 6.4 million — meals provided by VFW and Humana’s Uniting to Combat Hunger initiative
- 14 million — food insecure children in the country
- 1.2 million — low-income veterans who use SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)
- 1-in-4 — approximate number of active-duty service members who experience food insecurity
- 1-in-9 — approximate number of food insecure working-age veterans
Photo credit: Danny Cook/VFW