H-E-B celebrates with 300 Veterans Day community events
On Veterans Day and every day, H-E-B Partners across the state pay respect and honor the sacrifices of our nation’s military Veterans and their families.
Among this year’s celebrations, H-E-B stores across Texas will distribute gift bags filled with H-E-B brand items and a note of gratitude, handing them to Veterans inside our stores and at local Veteran nonprofits, including community VFW and American Legion locations. In all, H-E-B is participating in more than 300 Veterans Day community events across Texas. These efforts are part of H-E-B’s Operation Appreciation program.
Committed to honoring our nation’s heroes throughout the year, H-E-B Operation Appreciation supports and honors, military service members, Veterans, and their families within H-E-B and throughout the community. Launched in 2013, the program has provided more than $12 million in support to military-based nonprofits in Texas including efforts to provide employment opportunities to military service members and their spouses and provide mortgage-free homes to severely wounded Veterans. Recently named a top workplace for military Veterans, H-E-B has hired more than 28,000 Veterans and military spouses since 2013.
“At H-E-B, we’re proud to continue our longstanding commitment to honor the dedication and sacrifices military Veterans and their families make on behalf of our nation,” said Winell Herron, H-E-B Group Vice President of Public Affairs, Diversity, and Environmental Affairs.
This year, through H-E-B Homes Built for Heroes, which is part of the Operation Appreciation program, H-E-B presented six mortgage-free, fully furnished homes to severely injured Veterans and their families, bringing the total to 51 homes gifted, with more on the way next year. Over the years, H-E-B Operation Appreciation and the H-E-B Tournament of Champions Charitable Trust have dedicated more than $7 million to this ongoing effort to build and furnish homes for heroes. Since 2013, H-E-B has partnered with organizations such as the Gary Sinise Foundation, Homes for Our Troops and Operation Finally Home to build these specially-adapted homes across Texas.
As a new pillar to its Homes Built for Heroes program, H-E-B provides support for home modifications for Veterans. This year, H-E-B supported 10 home modifications across Texas, providing features like wheelchair ramps, accessible bathrooms, and widened doorways.
Earlier this month, H-E-B presented a $100,000 donation to Folds of Honor North Texas, which provides educational scholarships to the spouses and children of fallen or disabled U.S. service members. This contribution will support 20 scholarships. Additionally, H-E-B gifted another $100,000 to Folds of Honor South Texas for an additional 40 scholarships.
H-E-B customers can support these efforts by donating to H-E-B’s Operation Appreciation donation campaign. Funds raised through the campaign will go towards supporting our Homes Built for Heroes program and military nonprofits that provide support to active-duty service members, Veterans, and their families. Through Dec. 3, H-E-B customers can donate at checkout or online when placing Curbside and Home Delivery orders.
H-E-B’s deep commitment to the military started with the service of Howard E. Butt Sr., who served in the U.S. Navy during World War I. H-E-B’s Operation Appreciation program has embodied the company’s enduring commitment to support and honor our military heroes.
