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Veterans Lunch St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

FebFebruary 27 2025

12:00pm - 1:30pm St. Paul's Episcopal Church

485 Appleton St., Holyoke, MA 01040
Free Lunch For Veterans

Weekly Veterans Meal Program

Transportation available through the Holyoke Veterans’ Services Department 413-322-5630

What are we doing?

Community Roots Neighborhood Services, Inc. has partnered with St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and St. Peter’s Lutheran Church ,  to establish a Free Weekly Meal Program for Veterans’ and their immediate adult family members.  Lunches began on September  22, 2016 in the auditorium at St. Paul’s Church, 485 Appleton Street, Holyoke, Ma. 01040.  This weekly program, centers around a communal table.  The meal is the jump off point into conversation, camaraderie and healing among people with the shared experience and trauma of war.Our Mission is to offer access to food, services and companionship to all Veterans.
We Envision a Veterans Community free from hunger, isolation and loneliness.
We Vow to fulfill Lincoln’s promise to care for those who have borne the battle, by serving and honoring our Veterans.

Who are we doing it for?

All Hampden and Hampshire County Veterans in general and the 2,372 Veterans in the city of Holyoke in particular.

Why are we doing it?

  • 90% of the Veterans in Holyoke are at low to moderate income levels. Of that percentage, more than 51% are at or below 200% of the national poverty level.
  • 1 out of 4 Veterans are homeless.
  • The unemployment rate among Veterans is 14%.
  • Twice the number of veterans have committed suicide than the number of military killed in Vietnam.
  • Our goal is to reach out to a community that often feels unseen, unheard, ignored and marginalized.  Through food and fellowship we can create a safe and judgment free space among people with shared experiences.
  • Full bellies in a communal setting spark conversation; conversation is the first step towards healing.
  • We believe that if you help a group within a community, you help the community as a whole.

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