One in four. That’s how many military families are facing food insecurity according to a survey released by the Department of Defense in 2022. This means that 24% of families in the military community constantly struggle with access to enough food for each person in their household. Monica Basset, a military spouse stationed at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, took action to serve her community and relieve the impacts of this epidemic by establishing Stronghold Community Food Pantry.
Stronghold is more than a food pantry- it is a volunteer-run 501(c)(3) non-profit that aims to remove the stigma and ease the epidemic of food insecurity among military communities through awareness, advocacy, and collaboration. Stronghold serves all families from every branch by providing food, necessities, and resources whenever and wherever they are needed. Their services include a food pantry, emergency grocery pickup and delivery services, Stronghold U, community events, and an ambassador program.
Headquartered at Fort Leavenworth, Stronghold first opened its doors in November of 2022. In seven months, the team of volunteers has distributed over $30,000 worth of food, relieved the food burden for over 3,500 family members, and provided 345 military children with a “Hunger Buster Pack” filled with easy meals to make during school breaks. Open two mornings a week, individuals with a military ID can schedule a drive thru pickup for pre-packed grocery items. Stronghold also understands that emergency needs for food and necessities can occur, and lack of transportation can prevent people from accessing their pantry hours. To provide access to all, recipients can arrange emergency grocery pickup or porch delivery. With a commitment to dignity, care, and respect for families, all personal information is kept anonymous on the sign-up and never shared outside the organization.
Food insecurity among military families is caused by multiple factors, most notably frequent moves, spousal unemployment, unexpected expenses, and growing families. In addition to meeting immediate needs by providing grocery items, Bassett began Stronghold University, a program that offers educational classes led by seasoned professionals that address various topics that affect military families. So far, they have hosted in-person classes on Financial Awareness and Mastering Your PCS. By addressing causal issues, they are working hard to alleviate food insecurity at its roots.
The Stronghold Community Food Pantry has made an incredible impact on the military community at Fort Leavenworth thanks to generous donations and partnerships, and this is just the beginning. In April, the pantry announced its Stronghold Ambassador Program sponsored by the Uncommon Grit Foundation. The ambassador program will work with volunteers in other communities to expand operational branches. The next two bases to offer local services through ambassadors are Joint Base San Antonio and Fort Bliss, Texas. As the program grows, they hope to expand nationally across all military service branches.
To learn more about how to get involved with Stronghold Community Food Pantry, or to receive services from the program, visit www.strongholdfoodpantry.org. You can also find them on Facebook and Instagram @strongholdfoodpantry.
