H-E-B celebrates Veterans Day with 360 Veterans Day community events
Building on its more than decade-long mission to provide mortgage-free homes to severely wounded military Veterans, H-E-B is reinforcing its commitment to include home renovations and repairs for Veterans in need of accessibility upgrades or critical home improvements.
As part of its Homes Built for Heroes program, the effort focuses on enhancing independence, stability, and quality of life through essential home modifications and repairs such as providing features like wheelchair ramps, accessible bathrooms, and widened doorways. H-E-B launched the initiative last year, supporting 10 Veterans with renovation projects. In 2025, the retailer expanded the effort, supporting 30 renovation projects in partnership with Operation Finally Home. In 2026, H-E-B will continue to grow opportunities to support more Veterans with this renovation program.
Most recently, H-E-B partnered with Rebuilding Together Houston to support U.S. Army and Air Force veteran Linda Bryant and her family. Bryant proudly served in both the Army and Air Force, alongside her husband, who served in the Navy. To support the renovation, more than 60 H-E-B Partners came together to paint their home’s exterior, update landscaping, and more. As part of the celebration, H-E-B also presented Linda with a $500 gift card to fully stock her pantry.
“At H-E-B, we are deeply grateful to the Veterans and families who have sacrificed so much in service to our nation,” said Winell Herron, H-E-B Senior Vice President of Public Affairs, Diversity, and Environmental Affairs. “We are proud to honor their legacy and show our appreciation.”
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 stores and at local Veteran nonprofits, including community VFW and American Legion locations. Many stores will also host Veterans Day celebration receptions. In all, H-E-B is participating in more than 360 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 $17 million in support to military-based nonprofits in Texas as well as efforts to provide employment opportunities to military service members and their spouses and provide mortgage-free homes to severely wounded Veterans. Regularly named a top workplace for military Veterans, H-E-B has hired more than 30,000 Veterans and military spouses since 2014.
This year, through H-E-B Homes Built for Heroes, which is part of the Operation Appreciation program, H-E-B presented two mortgage-free, fully furnished homes to severely injured Veterans and their families, bringing the total to 53 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 proudly supported this ongoing effort to build and furnish homes for heroes. Since the program started, 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.
Among other H-E-B’s Operation Appreciation initiatives, the retailer works with many nonprofits such as K9s For Warriors and Patriot PAWS to help fund training of Service Dogs for Veterans in need. Throughout the year, H-E-B, with support from its loyal customers, raises funds for military nonprofits through its checkstand donation campaign. Since 2013, H-E-B has raised more than $4.3 million from this effort. Additionally, through sales of its Café Ole by H-E-B Commemorative Collection coffee blend, 35 cents from the sale of each bag is donated to military nonprofits across Texas.
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.
