Veterans Team Makes Strides Addressing Hunger

This past year Humana has teamed up with various with Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) to fight hunger, loneliness, and other social determinants of health that Veterans and their families face.

For example, the collaborative Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and Humana Uniting to Combat Hunger campaign raised 1,018,832 meals between the 2021 and 2022 VFW national conventions – more than double the goal of 500,000 meals. Since the campaign began in 2018, the VFW and Humana have provided over 3.5 million meals to those in need across the country.

Ed Sandrick, director of the Veterans Channel at Humana, announced surpassing the goal during the VFW’s national convention in July in Kansas City, Mo. Associates – including Veterans and members of military families – celebrated the 10^th anniversary of Humana’s relationship with the VFW, participating in events such as packing pounds of potatoes to help with local food relief efforts.

While Hunger Action Month is being observed this month, the Veterans Channel has been busy launching its 2023 Uniting to Combat Hunger campaign with the VFW to raise 1 million meals by July 2023.

Through Humana’s national Veteran Bold Goal, the VFW, Humana and other organizations support the health of Veterans and their families through impactful programming. At the VFW convention, Humana presented the VFW with a $50,000 donation dedicated to two VFW programs. The VFW Unmet Needs program received $25,000 toward its work providing financial aid to help with basic needs such as paying rent. The VFW National Veterans Service received $25,000 to support the program that helps Veterans get their earned Veterans Affairs benefits and compensation.

In August, associates gathered for the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) annual convention in Orlando, where Humana was awarded 2022 Partner of the Year and Champions for Heroes by DAV. Humana is working with DAV to address a range of health and social issues through such efforts as sponsoring the DAV 5K that raises awareness of issues that ill and injured Veterans face daily.

AMVETS (American Veterans) and Humana associates met in New Orleans in August for the AMVETS National Convention, providing an opportunity to reflect on the impact social challenges have on our Veterans and to commit to being part of the solution. Among the efforts to tackle social challenges, Humana supports the AMVETS HEAL program, which assists Veterans with medical needs and access to quality healthcare, including mental health and specialized services.

“We are so proud of the work we have accomplished jointly with VSOs addressing a range of health and social issues, and we’re looking forward to much more collaboration in the years ahead,” Sandrick said. “These collaborative efforts demonstrate that Humana is not just an insurance company, but rather a healthcare company genuinely and earnestly focused on improving the lives of the communities we serve – especially our Veteran community.”