In this month’s installment of our Veteran Non-Profit Spotlight, we shine a light on a unique organization striving to eliminate veteran hunger due to homelessness. Veterans Produce Foundation (VPF) is leveraging a unique technology that doesn’t require soil to grow food organically. We caught up with Managing Director Theodore “T.C.” Beckett to learn more about the important work they’re doing in the veteran community.
Describe the work your organization does and who you endeavor to help.
Veterans Produce Foundation (VPF) is on a mission to eliminate veteran hunger due to homelessness. We will accomplish this in two phases. First, by providing local access to community aquaponic gardens and healthy organic food. Secondly, VPF is cultivating a new generation of aquaculture farmers by providing hands on training to Veterans, and mentorship through the collaboration of farming and veterans organizations.
If someone asked you about your organization, whats the one most important aspect or takeaway you’d want them to remember?
We build community gardens to feed homeless veterans. Focusing first in the North Dallas region, VPF will model the Lewisville garden as the blueprint for creating similar gardens in cities across Texas. VPF has a long-term goal of eliminating Veteran hunger due to homelessness statewide and nationwide.
What’s the single biggest ‘push’ or area of focus for your organization right now?
Partnership and funding. As a new organization we have much to learn and do, and need to get the word out about what we are striving to do for homeless veterans.
What’s the biggest single need your organization has right now?
In short, Veterans Produce is a budding organization, just launched in Dec 2018. We have not obtained our 501(c)3 status yet. As such,Partnerships/sponsors are needed to facilitate bringing maturity and guidance to the organization.
- Veterans Produce needs to appoint board members.
- Find an experienced web designer who can donate some time to finalizing the VPF website.
- There are multiple roles needing a resource to fulfill functions such as grant writer and Marketing.
- Funding is needed beyond the volunteer labor and donated materials.
Volunteer, Donate, or Connect With Veterans Produce Foundation
Direct: (469) 240-2693
Email: info@veteransproduce.org
Facebook: facebook.com/VeteransProduce
Linkedin: linkedin.com/company/veterans-produce-foundation/
About Holloway Benefit Concepts
HBC was founded in early 2011 by Ryan Holloway. After serving over 8 years on active duty in the US Marine Corps, Ryan transitioned from being a full-time marine into an HR professional in early 2003. This began a journey and awoke a passion for helping companies who value their employees. After spending time working with a COBRA and FSA Administrator, an insurance company, and a large brokerage, Ryan realized that there were more unique and creative solutions for businesses than other companies were willing or able to realize. Seizing on his own entrepreneurial spirit, Ryan set out to found an independent agency designed to provide unique and original insurance solutions. To learn more about HBC, visit https://hollowaybenefitconcepts.com/
