When Linda and Freeman Jordan volunteer at Stand Down events with the Greater Chicago Food Depository, they see more than a line of people waiting for groceries – they see family. Both U.S. Army veterans from military families, the couple shares a deep connection with the men and women they serve.
The Jordans first got involved with the Food Depository through Chicago’s Veterans Stand Down events, which provide essential resources including food, clothing and healthcare services to veterans experiencing hardship. The Food Depository provides groceries to the veterans who attend.
Linda and Freeman Jordan volunteer at a Stand Down event, helping distribute groceries and connect with fellow veterans in need.
More than 12,000 veterans in Cook County live below the poverty line, and thousands more face daily challenges of affording and accessing nutritious food. “These are men and women who served this country to keep it safe for all of us,” said Freeman, an army veteran of 10 years.
“The fact that they’re in need of support is awful, but it’s a blessing to be able to help out in any kind of way.”
At each Stand Down, the couple helps the Food Depository distribute groceries, chats with fellow veterans and offers words of encouragement. “When it comes to veterans, we’re all in,” said Linda, who served as a lieutenant colonel and Army nurse for 37 years before retiring in 2020. “These are our brothers and sisters. It’s a complete honor to be doing this. Wherever we can help, we try to.”
Meeting veterans where they are
The Food Depository has participated in the twice-yearly Stand Down events for years, driven by our mission to end hunger for all our neighbors. For Navy veteran Issa Saleh Umi, who picked up a bag of groceries and a meal at a recent Stand Down, the event was a dose of much-needed community.
Navy veteran Issa Saleh Umi picks up groceries and a meal at a Stand Down event, where veterans connect with community resources and support.
“It makes me feel proud to be here and to see that people care about us,” said Umi. “We as veterans have gone through a lot. We’ve seen a lot. So, it’s nice to come to the Stand Down and be together and feel appreciated. I’ve been coming to these things for 10 years.”
A decade of partnership at Hines VA
The Food Depository also partners with Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital, home to one of the first food pantries inside a VA facility in the country. Launched on Veterans Day in 2014, the pantry celebrated its 10th anniversary last year. In the past 11 years, it has provided fresh produce, proteins and shelf-stable groceries to nearly 50,000 veteran households. Every week, 100 to 150 veterans visit the pantry, which has become a lifeline for many.
Mary Lou Mahalik picks up groceries at the Hines VA food pantry during its 10-year anniversary event. (Photo by Lou Foglia for the Greater Chicago Food Depository)
For Mary Lou and Joe Mahalik of Joliet, the pantry has been a steady source of help during difficult times. Mary Lou, 77, makes the two-hour round trip to Hines every day to support her husband of 50 years, Joe, an Army veteran with multiple health issues. Shortly after Joe began receiving care at the hospital, the couple discovered the pantry.
“Oh, the pantry has been so helpful,” Mahalik said. “We get some great food here that lasts us a while, and the people that work here are so kind. We’re endlessly grateful.”
That gratitude is shared by volunteers who make the pantry possible. Bob McMahon, a Marine veteran, has volunteered nearly every Thursday since the pantry opened. After facing his own period of housing instability years ago, he wanted to give back. Ten years ago, he was visiting Hines for medical care and overheard someone discussing the new pantry. He decided to help and has been volunteering ever since.
Marine veteran Bob McMahon volunteers at the Hines VA food pantry, helping provide groceries to fellow veterans each week. (Photo by Lou Foglia for the Greater Chicago Food Depository)
“I wanted to help because I knew there were veterans out there going through it, and I’ve been through it myself, so I understand,” McMahon said. “(Hines VA) saved my life, so the least I can do is pay it forward. Now, I look forward to coming here every single week,"
"You can tell this makes a difference in people’s lives, and it’s great to see.”
A commitment to hope and dignity
The Hines VA food pantry is one part of the Food Depository’s broader network. Veterans, like all neighbors in Chicago and Cook County, can access groceries at our partner pantries, soup kitchens and other programs. In addition to food, the Food Depository helps people apply for essential benefits like SNAP and Medicaid. Together, these programs aim to reduce poverty and improve health for those the Food Depository serves.
As Linda Jordan put it: “Not everybody can do everything. But everybody can do something.” That belief drives the Food Depository’s work with veterans, honoring their service by making sure those who defended our country are supported in return.
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