Gary Sinise Foundation donates meals to VA hospital staff during COVID-19 pandemic

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced today the Gary Sinise Foundation has committed to providing up to 20,000 meals to VA health care and frontline workers.       

VA’s Voluntary Service is working with the Gary Sinise Foundation Emergency COVID-19 Combat Service to identify the more than 80 VA medical facilities across the nation that will receive the meals over the coming weeks.

“Donations like this mean a lot to our VA staff as they are on the front lines of caring for our nation’s Veterans every day,” said VA Secretary Robert Wilkie. “We are very appreciative of this donation during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

“The donated meals will come from restaurants near these facilities, stimulating local economies and helping communities,” said Chief Operating Officer of the Gary Sinise Foundation Elizabeth Fields. “Up to 250 meals will be donated to each facility depending on size and need.”

Since April 1, the Emergency COVID-19 Combat Service has been helping to meet the urgent needs of Veterans, first responders, military, health care workers and all of those on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic through serving meals, providing personal protective equipment and donating decontamination equipment across the country.