Miami Dolphins partner with Bob Woodruff Foundation to address veterans food insecurity
As part of an NFL-BWF Salute to Service partnership grant, Volunteers of America of Florida (VOAF) hosted a food drive in Miami, Florida for veterans and their families.
VOAF helps veterans and their families find safe and affordable housing and provides vital support services needed to stabilize. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact the financial stability and housing security of the veterans VOAF serves.
During the event, VOAF provided shelf-stable food. With support from the community outreach service wing of the Miami Dolphins. volunteers packed food in bags and provided it to veterans experiencing homelessness. VOAF staff also drove food to locations across the state.
In total, the event provided food for over 200 veterans and their families. Miami Dolphins staff members and cornerback Keion Crossen volunteered. Crossen’s mother is a veteran, and he has great respect for our military. Speaking about the event, Crossen shared that, “service is not measured by how much we do for one another. Rather, it’s measured by what we do for one another with a servant and selfless mindset.”
Behind the scenes, VOAF’s programming is robust. Veterans hung out in the social lounge in VOAF’s drop-in center, co-located with a local VA office. Veterans come in for services, and to be in community. An on-site service coordinator for the Department of Veterans Affairs provided resources to connect veterans with programs. Volunteers were also able to see the transitional housing that they provided. This program provides case management, behavioral health services, employment services, emergency financial assistance, and housing for veterans working to transition out of homelessness. Long term the goal is for veterans to secure permanent housing.
“It was great to be on the ground with our partners, providing food to meet an immediate need. And it was especially inspiring to see how our partnership with Volunteers of America of Florida, thanks to support from the NFL, offers comprehensive support and a sense of community to these veterans,” said Emily Krause, Senior Program Officer Bob Woodruff Foundation.
