Blue Star Families of Utah’s 3rd annual ‘Vets Vittles’ event, scheduled for 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, will be held at the parking lot of the Utah National Guard’s Salt Lake Readiness Center, located at 1640 North 2200 West in Salt Lake City. The Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes is teaming with the Utah chapter of the Blue Star Families through a partnership with Feed the Children to celebrate and thank military families for their sacrifice and service. Food, hygiene, and other essential items will be provided for up to 400 military and veteran families during the event in appreciation for their service to our nation.

The event is open to active-duty service members, dependents, and reservists as well as veterans, retirees, and immediate Gold Star Family members. Pre-registration is required, and recipients must present valid proof of service. Supplies are limited and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

“Blue Star Families’ annual Vet’s Vittles Thanksgiving Food Distribution is a time for us to give back to our military and veteran families just ahead of the Thanksgiving Holiday, the start of what is often a stressful time for our community,” said Emily Harrison, director of Blue Star Families’ Utah Chapter.  “Financial burdens often exacerbate the everyday stressors of the military and veteran lifestyle, especially during this uncertain time of inflation and high fuel costs.”

 “The coalition exists to honor and support the men and women who have been wounded and

disabled protecting our cherished freedoms,” said Cpl. (ret.) Donny Daughenbaugh, Marine Corps veteran; national spokesman for the Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes. “We know

inflation is driving up the costs of food, gas, and household supplies so we hope all the active,

guard and retired service members living around the area will come out on Saturday and allow us

to help stock their pantries.”

For more information, please see Vet’s Vittles: A Nourish the Service Thanksgiving Food

Distribution Event Registration, at 11 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022. | Eventbrite

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Media Note: An opportunity for media to speak with event representatives prior to event kickoff will be held at 10:15 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022, in the parking lot in front of the Utah National Guard’s Salt Lake Readiness Center.  The first hour of the event is the peak time that would be most favorable for media to capture footage of this event.

About Blue Star Families

Blue Star Families is the nation’s largest grass-roots military family support organization, with a mission to support military families to improve military readiness. Its distinctive approach builds stronger communities around military families through knowledge and programs that address the unique needs of those who serve. Blue Star Families’ nationally recognized surveys and analysis give military families an important voice that informs policymakers and its military family programs. It uses the power of its collective resources and cross-sector collaborations to make a difference in the lives of hundreds of thousands of members of military families to strengthen the troops, their families, and our nation.

About the Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes

Since its establishment in 2004, the Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes has provided an

immediate, invaluable lifeline to thousands of America’s combat-wounded veterans. The

Leesburg, VA-based organization is distinguished from other veteran-focused groups by its

direct financial assistance to America’s wounded heroes. Its Emergency Financial Aid program

has stopped foreclosure proceedings on veterans’ homes and kept their vehicles from being

repossessed. Its innovative Heroes Thanking Heroes program provides transitional, part-time,

flexible employment to nearly 50 combat-wounded veterans or their primary caregivers, enabling

them to make phone calls from their homes, usually to personally thank donors for their contributions to the Coalition.

Blue Star Families of Utah’s 3rd annual ‘Vets Vittles’ event, scheduled for 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, will be held at the parking lot of the Utah National Guard’s Salt Lake Readiness Center, located at 1640 North 2200 West in Salt Lake City. The Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes is teaming with the Utah chapter of the Blue Star Families through a partnership with Feed the Children to celebrate and thank military families for their sacrifice and service. Food, hygiene, and other essential items will be provided for up to 400 military and veteran families during the event in appreciation for their service to our nation.

The event is open to active-duty service members, dependents, and reservists as well as veterans, retirees, and immediate Gold Star Family members. Pre-registration is required, and recipients must present valid proof of service. Supplies are limited and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

“Blue Star Families’ annual Vet’s Vittles Thanksgiving Food Distribution is a time for us to give back to our military and veteran families just ahead of the Thanksgiving Holiday, the start of what is often a stressful time for our community,” said Emily Harrison, director of Blue Star Families’ Utah Chapter.  “Financial burdens often exacerbate the everyday stressors of the military and veteran lifestyle, especially during this uncertain time of inflation and high fuel costs.”

 “The coalition exists to honor and support the men and women who have been wounded and

disabled protecting our cherished freedoms,” said Cpl. (ret.) Donny Daughenbaugh, Marine Corps veteran; national spokesman for the Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes. “We know

inflation is driving up the costs of food, gas, and household supplies so we hope all the active,

guard and retired service members living around the area will come out on Saturday and allow us

to help stock their pantries.”

For more information, please see Vet’s Vittles: A Nourish the Service Thanksgiving Food

Distribution Event Registration, at 11 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022. | Eventbrite

-30-

Media Note: An opportunity for media to speak with event representatives prior to event kickoff will be held at 10:15 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022, in the parking lot in front of the Utah National Guard’s Salt Lake Readiness Center.  The first hour of the event is the peak time that would be most favorable for media to capture footage of this event.

About Blue Star Families

Blue Star Families is the nation’s largest grass-roots military family support organization, with a mission to support military families to improve military readiness. Its distinctive approach builds stronger communities around military families through knowledge and programs that address the unique needs of those who serve. Blue Star Families’ nationally recognized surveys and analysis give military families an important voice that informs policymakers and its military family programs. It uses the power of its collective resources and cross-sector collaborations to make a difference in the lives of hundreds of thousands of members of military families to strengthen the troops, their families, and our nation.

About the Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes

Since its establishment in 2004, the Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes has provided an

immediate, invaluable lifeline to thousands of America’s combat-wounded veterans. The

Leesburg, VA-based organization is distinguished from other veteran-focused groups by its

direct financial assistance to America’s wounded heroes. Its Emergency Financial Aid program

has stopped foreclosure proceedings on veterans’ homes and kept their vehicles from being

repossessed. Its innovative Heroes Thanking Heroes program provides transitional, part-time,

flexible employment to nearly 50 combat-wounded veterans or their primary caregivers, enabling

them to make phone calls from their homes, usually to personally thank donors for their contributions to the Coalition.