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The Phoenix VA kicked off another successful Veggies for Veterans event at the Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center, May 14.

This successful partnership between the Phoenix VA and Gregory’s Fresh Market distributed six hundred bags of fresh fruits and vegetables to Veterans and their families this month as a

method to continue to address food insecurity for homeless and low-income Veterans living in a food desert in Phoenix, Ariz. 

“I just absolutely love being able to hear Veterans stories about how this event is so helpful to them,” said Phoenix VA Nurse Practitioner Isabel Kozak. “This is the eighth year we’ve been

holding Veggies for Veterans at the Phoenix VA and during that period we have served more than 22,000 Veterans.” 

Veggies for Veterans was established in April 2017 and has had numerous committed sponsors who supply volunteers and donations to Gregory’s Fresh Market. Today’s sponsors included Arizona

Complete Health, Peddler’s Son, and Fry’s. Items given to Veterans included apples, oranges, zucchini, potatoes, bell peppers, onions, and more.  

U.S. Army Veteran Bobby Smith who has been enrolled in the Phoenix VA Health Care System since 2015 said, “I first learned about this event when I was here for an appointment initially, and

since then I have come to probably seven or eight Veggies for Veterans events. I specifically came to the VA today for this event.”

The Veggies for Veterans event focuses on President Lincoln's promise: “To fulfill President Lincoln’s promise to care for those who have served in our nation’s military and for their

families, caregivers, and survivors.” 

“I try to take advantage of it each time and that's why I have been back several times,” said Smith. “I know Veggies for Veterans really does help the Veterans. This helps with my wife and

my budget because food is getting more expensive. It really has added to our diet, we were able to have healthy food.”

David Eberly, another U.S. Army Veteran said, “it was really nice of the Phoenix VA to do this for us; I had been here since 6 a.m. waiting for the event after I heard about it from an

appointment.” Eberly also mentioned, “I have also gotten excellent care from the Phoenix VA; I have been coming here since 2008.”