H-E-B celebrates the 10th anniversary of its Operation Appreciation program, which provides support to military service members, Veterans, and their families across Texas
In celebration of the 10th anniversary of H-E-B’s Operation Appreciation program, H-E-B and the H-E-B Tournament of Champions Charitable Trust have hit the milestone of gifting 40 mortgage-free, custom homes to severely wounded military Veterans and their families. An integral part of the company’s charitable efforts, H-E-B’s Operation Appreciation will continue to celebrate its decade of service in support of the military throughout the year.
On Feb. 4, as part of the H-E-B Homes Built for Heroes program, U.S. Army CPL Blake McMinn and his family were given the keys to their new mortgage-free, fully furnished home in Fort Worth. McMinn’s home, which was dedicated by Central Market in partnership with nonprofit Home for Our Troops, became the 40th home gifted through these efforts. For H-E-B, which is a multi-format retailer that operates Central Market, the initiative is part of the company’s Homes Built for Heroes program, an initiative that has worked with military nonprofits to gift homes across Texas to severely wounded Veterans since 2013. H-E-B Homes Built for Heroes program is a component of H-E-B’s Operation Appreciation, a companywide effort that supports service members, Veterans and their families.
These homes include dozens of special adaptations such as widened doorways for wheelchair access, a roll-in shower, and kitchen amenities that include pull-down shelving and lowered countertops, which allow for better mobility and provide for safer navigation. For these homes, H-E-B works with the family to design the look and feel of the home’s interior, and in each instance H-E-B Partners help with the finishing touches so the space is complete before families move in.
In 2022, H-E-B and the H-E-B Tournament of Champions gifted six homes across Texas. There are five homes in progress or under construction that will be gifted later this year, and additional mortgage-free, fully furnished custom homes will be committed soon to support severely wounded military Veterans and their families.
“This is not only life-changing for me, but also my family,” said McMinn, a Texas native who regularly uses a wheelchair after he was severely injured during his service in Iraq. “Without this support, we would not have this amazing opportunity.”
Since the program was launched a decade ago, H-E-B Operation Appreciation and the H-E-B Tournament of Champions have dedicated more than $5 million to this ongoing effort to build and furnish these homes. Throughout the years, H-E-B and the charitable trust have partnered with organizations such as the Gary Sinise Foundation, Homes for Our Troops and Operation Finally Home to build these life-changing homes across Texas.
“Our commitment to the military community has always been a part of our company culture since our first store opened in 1905, starting with Howard Edward Butt Sr. who served in the United States Navy during World War I,” said Winell Herron, H-E-B Group Vice President of Public Affairs, Diversity and Environmental Affairs. “Through H-E-B Operation Appreciation, we’re proud to continue this longstanding support and honor the dedication and sacrifices military service members and their families make on behalf of the nation.”
Launched in 2013, H-E-B’s Operation Appreciation aims at supporting, honoring, and providing employment opportunities to military service members and their families. Whether it’s working with dedicated nonprofits supporting the military or within the ranks through the H-E-B Military Partner Resource Group, H-E-B holds events throughout the year to celebrate military spouses, support youth education initiatives, and honor holidays such as Independence Day, Veterans Day, and Memorial Day. And to offer a taste of home, H-E-B Partners regularly assemble and send hundreds of care packages to service members deployed across the world.
Additionally, H-E-B’s annual donation campaign raises funds for the homes and other military-serving non-profits, including the Military Child Education Coalition, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors and the United Service Organizations. The program has provided more than $10 million in support to dozens of military-based nonprofits in Texas as well as efforts that provide mortgage-free homes to severely wounded Veterans.
