Military service can be a long and lonely road. From overseas deployments, to families left behind, to financial constraints -- support is not only needed but necessary.
That’s where the national non-profit organization, Soldiers’ Angels, steps in with a mission to provide aid, comfort, and resources to the military and veteran community. A network of volunteers in all 50 states, Washington DC and 31 countries abroad stands ready to assist soldiers and their families no matter where they’re based.
“In the non-profit world, we work a lot of hours. But it’s great work because we know we’re helping so many people,” said Amy Palmer, the organization’s president and CEO, in an interview with Military.com. “The ‘Thank You’s’ we get make it worth it. We see the amazing impact in real time.”
Recently, Soldiers’ Angels shifted its focus toward a “Food First” commitment, prioritizing new food pantries and seasonal food drives, in addition to providing traditional care packages, personal hygiene kits and other supplies. Pantries have opened in Detroit, Michigan and Charlotte, North Carolina. In the coming months, two more pantries will open in Atlanta and San Antonio, Texas. Organizers say the move is in response to the growing need among military families across the U.S. and globally for food assistance.
“Our mission hasn’t changed, but our intention has changed,” Palmer said. “We ask ourselves is there a pantry in a particular service area, city or region, and is it stocked with that’s needed? We look at what the needs are, and we start with ‘food first’ as the basic principle.”
And the effort continues across the U.S. and overseas with 1.7 million soldiers and their families served as of 2024 and counting, according to Soldiers’ Angels last official tally. The largest impact happens during holidays, and not only around Thanksgiving and Christmas.
“For Veterans Day, we did events in 84 markets,” said Palmer. “But the needs have changed because of the economy. Food costs have gone up. Mortgages, rents have gone up. Those are the things that have put a strain on military families, making the need for assistance even greater.”
Soldiers’ Angels receives no government funding. Instead, the organization relies on volunteers, corporate and small business sponsors, as well as individual giving, which Soldiers’ Angels claims in its annual report makes up 75 percent of its operating budget.
The organization’s new ‘food first’ initiative puts millions of donated dollars to good use each year, and more corporate sponsors are lining up to help.
“Our first pantry opened in Detroit, and it’s sponsored by the Detroit Pistons basketball team. In Charlotte, we’re sponsored by the Hornets,” said Michelle Julazadeh, Vice President of Marketing and Communications for Soldiers’ Angels, in an interview with Military.com. “Next is an Antonio, and we’ll have our grand opening in Atlanta in April.”But for all of its efforts, Solders’ Angels is heavily impacted by the ever-changing policies of the federal government.