A family selects items at the Armed Services YMCA food pantry in Harker Heights, Texas, on Oct. 30, 2025. (Rose L. Thayer/Stars and Stripes)
WASHINGTON — Wounded Warrior Project announced $2 million in emergency grants to food assistance programs for veterans and military families impacted by the federal government shutdown that include free groceries, commissary gift cards and prepared meals from food pantries.
The nonprofit, which advocates for post-9/11 veterans, said the dollars will support six organizations with missions to provide direct support to veterans, active-duty service members and their families.
Grant recipients are the Armed Services YMCA, Hope for the Warriors, Military Family Advisory Network, Operation Homefront, Stronghold Food Pantry and the Elizabeth Dole Foundation.
Wounded Warrior Project said Friday it received a large volume of requests for help from veterans after publication of this report. A spokesperson encouraged military and veteran families to contact the specific organizations that run food programs.
The organizations can deliver assistance quickly, including groceries and emergency financial aid for household expenses. They also connect individuals and families with additional support in their communities, Wounded Warrior Project said.
Even before the government shutdown, veterans were facing “alarming levels of financial strain,” WWP said.
Four in 10 veterans with injuries and illnesses the organization serves “met the threshold for food insecurity, nearly three times the rate of the general U.S. population,” WWP said Thursday.
“With the shutdown disrupting pay for federal employees and impacts on SNAP affecting veterans and active-duty families, we’re seeing increased requests for help,” WWP said.
Here is a look at how the grants will be used:
Armed Services YMCA will distribute 187,000 pounds of food to more than 5,300 military families. The food will be provided across branches in Alaska, California, Hawaii, Kentucky, Missouri, North Carolina, Texas, Virginia and Washington.
Military Family Advisory Network is providing a week’s worth of groceries and a commissary gift card to 1,250 active-duty National Guard and Reserve families.
Operation Homefront is offering $500 in grocery gift cards to more than 700 post-9/11 veteran and active-duty military families.
Stronghold Food Pantry is giving out more than 52,000 meals to 2,500 military families at 40 locations.
Hope for the Warriors will help 950 clients with case management and financial assistance and support 4,500 military households at food distribution sites near military bases nationwide.
Elizabeth Dole Foundation is helping caregivers who tend to disabled post-9/11 veterans and active-duty military families with connecting to resources and emergency financial assistance.
“These organizations have the infrastructure and expertise to respond immediately to military families in crisis,” retired Army Lt. Gen. Walt Piatt, chief executive officer at Wounded Warrior Project, said in a written statement Thursday.
