Soldiers volunteering at a Hampton Roads ASYMCA Food Distribution event load boxes of food into a car

Food Assistance

Food Assistance for Military Families

We no longer live in a world where families typically exist on one income. As the cost of living rises, both military and civilian parents struggle to feed their families, but military families are particularly vulnerable to economic downturns. The frequent relocations required of military service often leave families without immediate access to affordable child care, and military spouses lose out on career advancement opportunities, limiting their earning potential. These unique challenges frequently require military families to try to make ends meet on a single income.

 

It is estimated that more than 25% of active-duty military families need assistance with food.

To help junior enlisted families worry less about food and focus on mission readiness, the ASYMCA provides food assistance programs for military families at each of our local branches.

Where to Access Food Assistance

ASYMCA Alaska operates three “ASYMCA Marketplace” locations across the state and is available on a walk-in basis during business hours:

  • Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson
  • Fort Wainwright
  • Eielson Air Force Base

ASYMCA Hawaii distributes food through on-site “ASYMCA Marketplaces” and monthly Ohana Food Drops.

ASYMCA Fort Campbell‘s Food Assistance program operates out of the Armed Services YMCA Food & Thrift Store.

ASYMCA Fort Leonard Wood is in the process of launching a food assistance program.

ASYMCA Fort Liberty (formerly Fort Bragg) provides offers both a client-choice pantry in their office and a mobile food market to help shorten the distance to access food assistance for military families experiencing transportation challenges.

  • ASYMCA El Paso provides food through its food pantry at the Junior Enlisted Family Center on post, a drive-through service at their office location, and a mobile food market that can be staged at areas of greatest need
  • ASYMCA Killeen serves the Fort Cavazos (formerly Fort Hood) community through weekly food distribution events at their Harker Heights Wellness Center

The ASYMCA of Hampton Roads provides food through the Patriot’s Pantry at the Virginia Beach location for service members stationed at Hampton Roads.

The Impact of this Program in 2022

2M

pounds of food distributed

67K

Military Families Received Food Assistance

29%

increase in food distributed from 2021

Support Access to Food Security

Help us meet the growing need for access to food assistance so our service members can focus on the mission before them without worrying about the family who stands behind them.

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