SAN ANTONIO – The Veterans Day “Feed the Force” event, hosted at the Frost Bank Center, was a collaboration between the San Antonio Spurs, Mercy Chefs, and the Adam R. Scripps Family Foundation. This initiative was meticulously planned and executed, reflecting a deep sense of gratitude and support for the military community.
Gary LeBlanc, founder and CEO of Mercy Chefs, emphasized the importance of honoring those who serve in the military. “We think it’s really important to stand alongside military families and tell them that they’re appreciated and that we want to honor them, especially today,” LeBlanc stated.
Mercy Chefs is a faith-based, non-profit organization dedicated to providing disaster and humanitarian relief. The “Feed the Force” initiative is a nationwide effort aimed at alleviating food insecurity faced by military families.
During the event, volunteers, including Spurs season ticket holders, employees from Mercy Chefs and USAA, came together to assemble grocery boxes for 1,000 military families based at Joint Base San Antonio. Each box contained enough groceries to prepare up to 50 meals, in addition to fresh produce.
Military families expressed profound gratitude for the support. United States Army veteran Antonio Campos noted the significance of community assistance during challenging economic times. “Nowadays, everybody needs a little bit of help… we’re grateful for people like this,” Campos remarked.
Patty Rivera, whose father is a 90-year-old U.S. Air Force veteran, echoed Campos’ sentiments, highlighting the importance of community support. “It’s very important. Everyone is struggling these days… it just proves that the military means something to this community,” Rivera said.
LeBlanc shared insights into the financial struggles many military families face, stating that the average enlisted family survives on less than $500 a week. “It’s excruciating to think what they must go through,” he said, underscoring the need for continued support.
Veterans like Campos and U.S. Air Force veteran Joe Lozano reflected on the heartwarming nature of the event, noting that it showed awareness of the challenges faced by the military community. “They do realize that the military needs a lot of help… It comes in handy, big time, and we appreciate it,” Campos stated.
Lozano expressed, “To me, it seems like they want us and they appreciate what we did and what we went through.” U.S. Navy veteran David Martinez added, “It’s very inspiring. It is very humbling,” while also stressing the need for more support for veterans.
Martinez encouraged veterans to seek help, whether for food, housing, or mental health services, and to not feel embarrassed about their needs. “You shouldn’t feel embarrassed if you need help… There are people that care and there are resources out there for you,” he advised.
LeBlanc concluded by expressing the honor of being able to give back to those who have sacrificed so much. “These men and women and the families that sacrificed so much for us, it’s an incredible honor to be able to come out and tell them thank you in a tangible way,” he said.
