KILLEEN, Texas — Operation Homefront continued its annual program to support 170 military families across Killeen this holiday season.
Military families gathered for more than holiday meal kits. They came together to find community, support, and hope during a season that can amplify the challenges of military life.
For Ashley Perez, whose family's military service spans three branches, the event offered a welcome boost during her husband's deployment.
"We just signed up for it, and it was a good opportunity for us to get some extra love around the holidays while my husband's not here," Perez said. "It was just a blessing for us to enjoy this little bit of love from the military for our family."
Beyond immediate assistance, the program creates valuable connections for families far from their support systems.
"When you have no family here, you make friends and companions," said Keitsha Salazar, whose husband is currently deployed. "You have to worry about who will help you watch them for play dates, and then the changes and the separation take a toll."
As the cost of essential goods increases, military families are among the most affected. According to a recent study, at least one in four active-duty enlisted families experienced food insecurity in 2023.
"Food insecurity is real for everybody," said Rebecca Tayamen, Operation Homefront Program Coordinator. "But for the active-duty family, one in four every family experiences food insecurity. So an event like this helps provide them with a meal they might not have had."
Families who are most likely to face food insecurity reportedly include individuals who have joined the military in the past decade, relocated, have young children, and those with a spouse who is under or unemployed.
Operation Homefront reported that the cost of essential goods has increased 28% over the past five years, making the Holiday Meals for Military program vital for struggling military families.
The Holiday Meals for Military program is supported by partners Bob and Dolores Hope Foundation, Chobani, Food Lion, Town House, and Proctor & Gamble.