Stronghold Food Pantry: Uncommon Grit Foundation Grantee Spotlight
According to the Department of Defense, 24% of military families face food insecurity. That’s nearly one in four families. But even before Monica Bassett learned about this startling statistic, she knew that military families struggled with this issue because she heard the cries for help firsthand. Determined to help solve this problem, Monica went into action, laying the groundwork for what would soon become a nonprofit called Stronghold Food Pantry.
“When they were unable to put food on the table, I helped provide them with laundry baskets full of nonperishables from my garage,” shared Stronghold Food Pantry CEO Monica Bassett. “That initial grassroots effort and advocacy for military families facing food insecurity is what led to the opportunity to establish a nonprofit, which now allows me to help and serve even more military families.”
The mission of Stronghold Food Pantry is to serve American military families facing food insecurity with care and dignity by providing food, necessities, and resources whenever they are needed. Families in need simply fill out an anonymous form for weekly grocery pickup on Stronghold’s website. Most patrons are active-duty military families, but Stronghold also offers services to currently serving National Guard and Reserve military families. As to why this is such a prevalent issue, Monica says the families facing food insecurity are not to blame.
“There are several causal factors that lead families into food insecurity that are unique to the military lifestyle,” explained Monica. “Military families are moved often, placing a burden on them to replace their own pantries in a repeated 2–3-year pattern. Spouses are often left resigning from the workforce to transition with the needs of the military. Unexpected factors like inflation and the rising cost of groceries—which are predicted to increase another 8% in 2023—are hard to overcome when military pay has simply not kept up.”
The nonprofit, headquartered in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, keeps its pantries stocked, thanks to the generosity of donors, supporters, volunteers, and partners like Uncommon Grit Foundation. And Stronghold Food Pantry is making big plans to expand its mission throughout the entire United States, which is how Uncommon Grit Foundation became acquainted and ready to help elevate this critical work through the Stronghold Ambassador Program.
“The grant from Uncommon Grit Foundation has allowed us the opportunity to expand our operations beyond Kansas, and across military branches. We have onboarded two Stronghold Ambassadors who will man the Stronghold branches on their own military installations,” added Monica.
Uncommon Grit Foundation is proud to sponsor the Stronghold Ambassador Program, which works with local volunteers to operate branches in their communities. Stronghold’s first ambassador is Ashley Gutermuth. Stationed at Joint Base San Antonio, Ashley is a well-known comedian, military spouse, and 2023 Armed Forces Insurance Air Force Spouse of the Year. In her role as a Stronghold Ambassador, she will help military families in her local area and plans to take Stronghold’s mission nationally, assisting military families at various installations on her comedy tours. Tim Selby, Stronghold’s CFO, is stationed at Fort Bliss, Texas, and will operate as a second Stronghold Ambassador there.
“The partnership with Uncommon Grit Foundation is allowing Stronghold a unique, innovative, and exciting opportunity to go nationally and cross military service branches. We will be reaching more military families who have 'answered the call to serve' by having an ambassador program,” said Monica. “I look forward to the great things we will accomplish the best way we, at Stronghold, know how: together.”
To learn more about Stronghold Food Pantry and how you can get involved, visit strongholdfoodpantry.org. You can also follow Stronghold Food Pantry on Instagram and Facebook @strongholdfoodpantry. Be on the lookout for more exciting announcements about a unique collaboration with this new Uncommon Grit Foundation grant recipient.