A charity by the name of M.A.S.H. Pantry puts food in the bellies of hungry homeless and low-income veterans and their families.
Amber Hudson – a Navy veteran – started the M.A.S.H. (Military and Service Heroes) Pantry in an effort to put an end to hunger among the veteran community. Though she is currently tackling Ohio's Franklin County, Hudson hopes to spread awareness of this issue and one day make a change nationwide.
"Everything we have in this country we owe to our military veterans. They shouldn't return home and go hungry, but there just aren't any food pantries around, and our country does not provide the resources our veterans need," Hudson said to This Week Community News.
The nonprofit, located in Columbus, serves veterans and families in the area. Those who are in need of food as well as clothes and toiletries have the chance to collect these items every Saturday morning at the pantry, according to the source. Potluck dinners are also held on some weekends during the month.
Hudson is extremely dedicated to the cause. She sold her car and prized possessions to get the pantry off the ground.
"The feeling you get when you know you're making a difference in someone's life, that's a treasure that's invaluable," Hudson told This Week Community News.
Thanks to Hudson and other volunteers who help make a difference in the lives of veterans and their families, the M.A.S.H. Pantry has grown. In fact, it had to move offices because it became too big for its original location, the source stated. Hudson will continue to work hard and plans to grow even more. She wants to make a difference and reduce the number of veterans and their families who have to go to bed hungry every night, not only in the state of Ohio but all over the country.