Food Drive Breaks Records
Collects 12,000 Pounds to Feed Veterans

Melody Miles knows what it’s like to be hungry and homeless.

Just over three years ago, she was living in a homeless shelter. At that point, she began to take control of her life when she successfully graduated from a substance-abuse program and found a job at the Houston VA Medical Center.

At the hospital, a couple of her co-workers asked Miles to help with the annual food drive benefiting the Houston VA Medical Center’s Health Care for the Homeless Veteran Program. She agreed, and the rest is history.

In 1998, the National Nutrition Month Food Drive involved just a few VA hospital employees and brought in 1,002 pounds of canned goods and other nonperishables. In 1999, Miles’ first year working the food drive, she alone brought in 1,046 pounds.

In 2000, she spearheaded the effort to take the food drive outside the hospital and into the community. Miles and her small team of hospital volunteers – Ben Lima, Renee Walker, Donald Tapscott, Jeff O’Neal, Danny Ray van Avery, and Valsa George – have seen their hard work pay off with more people and organizations realizing the importance of this program.

This year, participants included hospital employees, volunteers, and veterans; community organizations such as Sterling High ROTC, Operation Outreach, Hightower High ROTC, and Disabled American Veterans chapters; businesses such as Kroger, H-E-B Pantry Store, Gallery Furniture, Dr. Pepper, and Pepsi Co.; media outlets such as KCOH Radio; celebrities such as professional football player Rodney Hampton and Mattress Mac; and community leaders such as Councilman Carroll Robinson, Sgt. Lillian White, the Rev. Bill Lawson, and Lt. Col. Maria Garza.

For the second year, Mike Petrizzo, general manager of radio station KCOH, hosted a food drive and live radio-thon to support the National Nutrition Month Food Drive. More than 1,350 pounds of food and $4,185.98 in cash were collected in just one day.

At the Houston VA Medical Center, the month-long food drive generated an additional 7,151 pounds of food.

"The amount of food donated is incredible – 12,687 pounds. This will provide food for hundreds of hungry veterans in the Harris-County area," said Ben Lima, Houston VA Medical Center chief of food production services.

Today, Melody is a program support clerk in the hospital’s Medical Care Line. In her spare time, she is involved in prison ministry, is a regular speaker at the Star of Hope Women’s Shelter, and serves as a mentor for women struggling to get their lives back on track.

"It is my prayer that everyone will always remember the plight of our homeless veterans. We are already making plans for next year’s food drive," said Miles.

This year’s drive was dedicated to the memory of Barbara Phillips, a former VA Medical Center hospital employee.

---

©2006 Texas Medical Center

---

E-Mail: tmcinfo@texmedctr.tmc.edu
URL: http://www.tmc.edu/tmcnews/06_15_02/page_11.html