Navy veteran Jovan Ector considers his volunteer work with North Shore Community College’s (NSCC) new Food4Vets program an opportunity to give back the help he received nine years ago.
The Trinidad and Tobago native moved from California to Massachusetts in 2011 to start a new life after leaving the Navy. He enrolled in NSCC and met friends and mentors he is still close to today.
“They adopted me and really looked after me,” he said.
A Lynn firefighter since 2013 who works out of the Fayette Street fire station, Ector was happy to help direct traffic Wednesday at NSCC’s Danvers campus where more than 70 veterans stopped by to pick up food.
An all-volunteer collaboration organized by the Veterans Northeast Outreach Center (VNOC), of Haverhill through the Mass Military Support Foundation, Food4Vets is supported by Eagle Leasing and Shaheen Brothers Food Distributing, and with help from veterans like Ector.
“For me, it’s a chance to give back. I love being involved in any type of outreach for veterans,” he said.
The free, bi-weekly food distribution is designed to get necessary food to area military veterans who are uncomfortable shopping at a supermarket at this time or who are running short on money to buy food.
Distributions will be held, until the coronavirus pandemic has eased, at NSCC every other Wednesday from 10 a.m. to noon on the college’s Danvers Campus parking lot 6 near the Health Professions and Student Services building.
NSCC Student Veterans Services Coordinator Kristine Babcock said the college provides strong support for veterans enrolled in its programs. Food4Vets is also an opportunity for veterans of all ages and service backgrounds to get food they need and to make connections with other veterans and veteran service programs.
“Veterans depend on each other and when programs are put on for veterans, they are likely to go to them,” she said.
Babcock said attendance and volunteer participation at the initial two-hour distribution demonstrates the need to provide veterans with food, especially during coronavirus isolation protocols.
Gail Hewins, outreach coordinator for Veterans Northeast Outreach Center, said the Food4Vets program provides boxed food kits through the Massachusetts Military Support Foundation.
Eagle Leasing donated two 40-foot storage containers to store non-perishable food kits that pre-registered veterans can pick up. Shaheen Brothers Food Distributing is providing perishable items, including produce, dairy and snacks to augment the non-perishable boxes.
“When this project started at Gillette Stadium we thought there is a need locally, why not see if they would be willing to geographically expand the program. Everyone has been so wonderful, this all came about very quickly due to everyone’s interest and willingness to participate,” Hewins said.
Veterans wishing to take part must sign up online at vneoc.org or massmilitarysupportfoundation.org, under one of the distribution sites noted on that webpage. If people don’t have internet access or have problems they can call (978) 372-3626.
“We encourage veterans from all over the North Shore to sign up,” said Babcock.
Ector said he feels an obligation to help other veterans learn about available benefits and help them to access those resources.
“I encourage other vets to get involved, especially younger ones,” he said.
