Pantry Partner: Home of the Brave provides vets with food, shelter, and hope

March 13, 2025

Our work is not possible without partnerships with community organizations throughout the state. Our vision of a community free of hunger is shared with about 200 partner agencies who are on the frontline serving our state’s most vulnerable. Last year we provided more than 5 million pounds of food to our partner agencies. 

One of those agencies is Home of the Brave in Milford. 

Home of the Brave, a transitional housing complex for unhoused veterans, is located in a distinctly rural setting. The facility, south of Milford, is surrounded by wide open fields despite nearby access to heavily traveled Del. 1. A long, paved lane off Sharps Road leads to the administrative offices which face a beige house converted into a shelter for six female veterans. Further down the lane – away from the road — sits a larger two-story farm house-style shelter for 14-15 male veterans; it’s flanked by a large pole building that is used to store food and items donated to support unhoused veterans’ move to permanent housing.

There are no empty beds, and in fact, Home of the Brave typically has a list of veterans waiting to move in. In addition to partnership with the Food Bank, this organization works with other agencies that support veterans’ efforts to achieve independence. 

At Home of the Brave, the food pantries in both transitional housing facilities have been stocked for residents; unlike some sites, these pantries do not offer community visits.

David Debnam, kitchen manager, and the man who prepares dinner for veterans every night but Wednesdays, keeps those house pantries well stocked and the storage facilities organized. Although he’s not a veteran, he’s proud of his grandfather’s 30 years of service, and supports the residents as they deal with challenges “of getting back on their feet, placed in permanent housing, get connected to VA benefits.”

Residents can look forward to a hot dinner each evening; faith-based organizations take a turn preparing Wednesday’s dinner. As for the other meals, the pantries in each residence are stocked so that veterans can select nourishing food they can easily prepare themselves, Debnam explains. “We do offer independence,” he said.

Residents assume chores to maintain the houses as well, but each person has a small refrigerator as well as bed linens, towels and pantry shelves that are labelled by name.

Each resident’s intake form includes an opportunity to list food allergies as well as health conditions – such as diabetes or high blood pressure – that can create dietary restrictions. Debnam notes that most of the male residents are over 50 years old; the women are generally ages 40-45, so many deal with chronic health issues.

The link between food and health is something Debnam considers when he’s making dinners. “I don’t use much salt,” he said.

 Providing food at Home of the Brave is more than just meeting a basic need—it’s about offering stability and dignity. As we continue our work alongside dedicated organizations across the state, we remain committed to the vision of a hunger-free community where no one, especially those who have sacrificed for our nation, has to wonder where their next meal will come from.