Area residents have until Nov. 8 to apply for an annual program that provides holiday meals to veterans.
The Care and Share program provides items like flour, eggs, ham and other groceries to veterans in need in December.
It is operated by volunteers from the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center and is open to those within the VA’s 29-county service area in Southeast Missouri and Northeast Arkansas. Applicants must meet certain income requirements.
Donations are collected throughout the year from service organizations, businesses and others to support the effort.
Approximately 225 baskets were distributed last year, VA Voluntary Service Officer Dale Garrett said in a press release.
The VA hopes to increase that number to 300 this year, Garrett explained. Because of the income requirements, he said, these baskets go to those who really need them.
“I’ve had veterans tell me they freeze the ham in small packages and make it last until February,” he said. “They really know how to stretch the food.”
Applications must be completed by or signed by the recipient veteran and may be picked up at nearly any medical center office, community clinic (Farmington, Cape Girardeau, Sikeston, West Plains, Salem, Paragould and Pocahontas) or by calling Voluntary Services at 573-778-4276.
The Care and Share program was started in 2011, when it served about 120 veterans.
Volunteers from the VA, area veterans groups and other organization coordinate the purchase, packaging and delivery of food each year.