Georgia VECTR Center distributes food to veterans

Local veterans from all over the state of Georgia had the opportunity to receive a care bag of food and other giveaways at the Georgia Veterans Education Career Transition Resource (VECTR) Center on Tuesday morning, November 10.

Georgia VECTR Center hosted this appreciation event for the veterans who have served our country by partnering up with various companies to provide our heroes with “care bags.” Three hundred care bags were put together and dispersed between the first three hundred veterans who were able to show up and receive their appreciation package.

According to Retired Colonel Patricia Ross, the Chief Operating Officer of the Georgia VECTR Center, an annual veterans event is usually held at the facility every year. However, as concerns for COVID remain high for those immunocompromised or elderly, the team had to work together to brainstorm the perfect idea to still honor and celebrate the men and women that have served our nation over the years. It was extremely important for them to come up with a safe way to show the local veterans that they are respected and appreciated for all of their selfless sacrifices.

“You know, [many] are older or have medical or physical limitations, so they’re not getting out; we decided to try something a little different,” Ross said. “We had to adapt.”

“Adapting” seems to be one of the most important words and concepts of 2020. As many businesses worked to still find a way to function and serve the public through these challenging times, creative and innovative ideas have been born. The staff at VECTR agreed on the idea of creating gift bags, or care bags, for the veterans. Large companies from around the area graciously sponsored the event by donating food and/or items for the bags. Surprising the staff at the Georgia VECTR Center, many of the companies ended up donating much more than they were originally asked.

Ross went on to explain, “Local businesses have come together to express their gratitude to our local veterans. We realize many of our veterans cannot celebrate the day in a traditional manner, so we are doing our first drive-thru, contactless, veteran celebration.”

Care bags included food from the Middle Georgia Food Bank, several bags of frozen Tyson chicken, snack foods, gift cards, VECTR masks and various toiletry items.

To comply with the recommended local and state guidelines for social distancing to reduce the risk of spreading the virus, veterans were able to line up in their vehicles as the staff at the Georgia VECTR Center delivered a care bag directly to each vehicle. The staff verified the veteran status of the attendees by either checking military IDs, driver’s licenses, discharge documents, or with VA ID cards.

“We’re just hoping,” began Ross, “especially as veterans are staying home more because many of them are at an increased risk, that they can still get out and get them some food, and maybe have a meal on us at home through our partner organizations and still feel appreciated.”

Several companies generously sponsored this event and include the following: Central Georgia Technical College, Middle Georgia Community Bank, Tyson Foods, Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Chick-fil-A Warner Robins, Georgia Farm Bureau, Frito-Lay Perry, Target of Warner Robins, Longhorn Steakhouse of Warner Robins, Greater Union Baptist Church, Robins Air Force Base, and Robins Regional Chamber.

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