How one VA dietitian is tackling Veteran food insecurity

VA’s locker-based answer to Veteran food insecurity

Healthy eating is key to overall health for Veterans. A lack of consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life, also known as food insecurity, can lead to negative health outcomes.

Billie Smith is a clinical dietitian and Healthy Teaching Kitchen (HTK) Coordinator at the West Palm Beach VA Healthcare System. In 2023, while driving groceries to Veterans in rural areas as part of a program called “VA Fresh,” she began wondering how VA might deliver the same impact more efficiently. Each delivery required significant time and labor.

After seeing a refrigerated food locker at a local grocery store, Smith was inspired to think about how VA might use lockers as a tool to better support eligible Veterans experiencing food insecurity. With support from VHA’s Innovation Ecosystem, Smith developed the Warrior Wellness Project (WWP), an initiative that tackles Veteran food insecurity while supporting overall health and dignity.

From groceries to wellness: How the program works

Eligible Veterans pick up food on an assigned day every other week. The 15-door refrigerated locker is in an accessible area and available 24/7. The lockers allow Veterans to pick up their groceries at their convenience using an assigned code sent directly to the Veteran.

Beyond food access, the program connects Veterans with whole health coaching—a VA approach to holistic, patient-centered care, as well as social work and mental health support, financial and nutrition literacy, housing and job aid resources.

Veterans enrolled in the program can attend weekly HTK classes with Smith, who teaches them to cook with the exact ingredients they receive from the locker. “Teaching Veterans how to use the fresh produce and pantry staples they receive gives them confidence to plan and prepare their own meals, which supports both their independence and sense of dignity,” Smith said.

WWP also offers virtual HTK classes and provides connected devices, such as iPads, through VA’s Office of Connected Care.

Supporting Veteran health and wellness

One Veteran enrolled in WWP gained access to the program after losing his job through another VA program: VA’s Compensated Work Therapy, which helps Veterans with physical and mental health challenges find, secure and keep jobs.

“I could not afford enough food to feed my family,” he said. “Knowing that I can count on this food gives me the emotional space to look for work. I am also thankful for the support that the classes provide. I have even met new friends.”

Many Veterans also say the program not only helps them, but also their loved ones. “I live alone, and the amount of food I receive is generous, so I share it with my elderly neighbor who can barely make ends meet. Together, we share meals, and I feel good that I can help someone else in need,” said another participant.

Neighbors helping Veterans thrive

Beyond individual stories of resilience, a broader network of support keeps the program running. Behind the scenes, volunteers and community partners help keep the lockers filled and the program thriving. In just eight months, through generous donations from Feeding South Florida, Palm Beach County Food Bank, Soldiers’ Angels and CROS Ministries, WWP distributed more than 61,700 pounds of food valued at an estimated $20,600. All of this comes from weekly donations.

Building on the pilot’s success, Smith is now focused on reaching even more Veterans. As a VHA Innovation Ecosystem Fellow, she is receiving support to expand WWP across Florida and beyond.

“The WWP is transforming how we care for Veterans by treating food as a critical part of treatment and recovery, not an afterthought,” said Cory Price, executive director of West Palm Beach VA Healthcare System. “By combining groceries, nutrition education, and whole health support, we are helping Veterans better manage chronic conditions, reduce stress and protect their independence.”