{"id":948,"date":"2026-08-11T14:30:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-11T14:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thirstier.news\/?p=948"},"modified":"2026-08-11T14:30:00","modified_gmt":"2026-08-11T14:30:00","slug":"how-one-va-dietitian-is-tackling-veteran-food-insecurity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/itsveterans.com\/?p=948","title":{"rendered":"How one VA dietitian is tackling Veteran food insecurity"},"content":{"rendered":"
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VA\u2019s locker-based answer to Veteran food insecurity<\/h2>\n

Healthy eating is key to overall health for Veterans. A lack of consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life, also known as food insecurity, can lead to negative health outcomes.<\/p>\n

Billie Smith is a clinical dietitian and Healthy Teaching Kitchen<\/a> (HTK) Coordinator at the West Palm Beach VA Healthcare System<\/a>. In 2023, while driving groceries to Veterans in rural areas as part of a program called \u201cVA Fresh,\u201d she began wondering how VA might deliver the same impact more efficiently. Each delivery required significant time and labor.<\/p>\n

After seeing a refrigerated food locker at a local grocery store, Smith was inspired to think about how VA might use lockers as a tool to better support eligible Veterans experiencing food insecurity. With support from VHA\u2019s Innovation Ecosystem, Smith developed the Warrior Wellness Project<\/a> (WWP), an initiative that tackles Veteran food insecurity while supporting overall health and dignity. <\/p>\n

From groceries to wellness: How the program works<\/h2>\n
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<\/a>
Billie Smith with The Warrior Wellness Project\u2122 Food Locker at the West Palm Beach VA Healthcare System.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Eligible Veterans pick up food on an assigned day every other week. The 15-door refrigerated locker is in an accessible area and available 24\/7. The lockers allow Veterans to pick up their groceries at their convenience using an assigned code sent directly to the Veteran.<\/p>\n

Beyond food access, the program connects Veterans with whole health coaching\u2014a VA approach to holistic, patient-centered care, as well as social work and mental health support, financial and nutrition literacy, housing and job aid resources.<\/p>\n

Veterans enrolled in the program can attend weekly HTK classes with Smith, who teaches them to cook with the exact ingredients they receive from the locker. \u201cTeaching Veterans how to use the fresh produce and pantry staples they receive gives them confidence to plan and prepare their own meals, which supports both their independence and sense of dignity,\u201d Smith said.<\/p>\n

WWP also offers virtual HTK classes and provides connected devices, such as iPads, through VA\u2019s Office of Connected Care.<\/p>\n

Supporting Veteran health and wellness<\/h2>\n

One Veteran enrolled in WWP\u00a0gained access to the program after losing his job through another VA program: VA\u2019s Compensated Work Therapy, which helps Veterans with physical and mental health challenges find, secure and keep jobs.<\/p>\n

\u201cI could not afford enough food to feed my family,\u201d he said. \u201cKnowing that I can count on this food gives me the emotional space to look for work. I am also thankful for the support that the classes provide. I have even met new friends.\u201d<\/p>\n

Many Veterans also say the program not only helps them, but also their loved ones. \u201cI live alone, and the amount of food I receive is generous, so I share it with my elderly neighbor who can barely make ends meet. Together, we share meals, and I feel good that I can help someone else in need,\u201d said another participant.<\/p>\n

Neighbors helping Veterans thrive<\/h2>\n
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<\/a>
VA Secretary Doug Collins hears from Billie Smith in front of The Warrior Wellness Project\u2122 Locker during a November 2025 visit to the medical center.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Beyond individual stories of resilience, a broader network of support keeps the program running. Behind the scenes, volunteers and community partners help keep the lockers filled and the program thriving. In just eight months, through generous donations from Feeding South Florida, Palm Beach County Food Bank, Soldiers\u2019 Angels and CROS Ministries, WWP distributed more than 61,700 pounds of food valued at an estimated $20,600. All of this comes from weekly donations.<\/p>\n

Building on the pilot\u2019s success, Smith is now focused on reaching even more Veterans. As a VHA Innovation Ecosystem Fellow<\/a>, she is receiving support to expand WWP across Florida and beyond.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe WWP is transforming how we care for Veterans by treating food as a critical part of treatment and recovery, not an afterthought,\u201d said Cory Price, executive director of West Palm Beach VA Healthcare System. \u201cBy combining groceries, nutrition education, and whole health support, we are helping Veterans better manage chronic conditions, reduce stress and protect their independence.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Topics in this story<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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Food insecurity<\/a>Innovation<\/a>nutrition<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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<\/i>Leave a comment<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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The comments section is for opinions and feedback on this particular article; this is not a customer support channel. If you are looking for assistance, please visit Ask VA<\/a> or call 1-800-698-2411. Please, never put personally identifiable information (SSAN<\/abbr>, address, phone number, etc.) or protected health information into the form \u2014 it will be deleted for your protection.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\t\tOne Comment\t\t<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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    \n\t\t\t\t\t\tSTACEY<\/strong>
    \n\t\t\t\t\t\tAugust 11, 2026 at 15:12 – Reply<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n
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    A promising and impactful solution would be for the VA to partner with retailers that use secure pickup lockers. This would provide Veterans with an additional convenient option for receiving essential items, assuming such a partnership is feasible.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/li>\n

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