Through an effort dubbed Operation Food Fairy, Beyond the Yellow Ribbon, in partnership with Meals from the Heart, provided 100 bags of groceries to those in need in the military community on July 11.

Meals from Heart volunteers packed the grocery bags and then BTYR volunteers delivered them to armories and bases across the state. Tom Thiets, Meals from the Heart president, said the nonprofit organization does this “because it’s the right thing to do.”

“They serve us. We have to make sure they’re taken care of,” Thiets said.

Barb Jorgensen, Meals from the Heart volunteer, has family members who served in the military, and she enjoys lending a hand.

“It’s just doing such a great service,” Jorgensen said. “It fills my heart to know that these people need things, and we can give it to them.”

Besides giving her time, Jorgensen and her family donated to sponsor a hole at this year’s Meals from the Heart 2nd Annual Golf Tournament.

For the past five years, Meals from the Heart has been a BTYR partner in providing food for the military community, and it is able to do this through donations and fundraisers, such as the golf tournament. To register or support the tournament on July 21, go to https://mealsfromtheheart.org/special-events/golf-tournament/.

Story by Cristina Oxtra

Minnesota National Guard Public Affairs