Our Impact

Steven may not have been born in America, but that didn’t stop him from serving his adopted country.

Now 68, Steven was born in East London, but moved to the United States with his parents when he was younger. After witnessing social unrest as a teenager, he decided to enlist in the Army.

“I personally thought that if we live here and were reaping the benefits of being American, then you should be the first person on the front line,” Steven said.

A few years ago, Steven moved to Poplar Bluff from Texas. Not long after, he found himself in the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center facing multiple health issues, including Covid-19 and a heart attack.

“I had to learn to walk again, breathe again, and I even had a hard time eating because I had to learn to get my hand to my mouth,” Steven said.

His caseworker at the medical center also got Steven set up with SEMO Food Bank’s Veterans Healthy Food Surplus Program. Operated in partnership with the John J. Pershing VA, the program provides Veterans like Steven with a monthly box of nutritious food, including lean proteins and fresh produce.

Steven at the Veterans Healthy Food Surplus in Poplar Bluff

“This (food) helps out so much, because it depresses the crap out of me to go grocery shopping because of how much prices have gone up,” Steven said. “I was relieved when my caseworker told me about this (program) and, man, am I thankful she did.”