About

Founded: 15 March, 2020

Incorporated: 29 May 2024

Grunt and I would like to welcome you to Cooking with a Veteran Inc. a 501c3 non-profit organization that has a simple mission of helping fight food insecurities for veterans and their families.

HOW IT STARTED:

Started on Long Island, NY in 2020 during the pandemic, many older veterans were not getting hot meals. Cooking with a veteran started by ensuring that many of those veterans in the area were able to get good meals throughout the week. At the height of the program Cooking with a Veteran was feeding 20 veterans three times a week.

GOING LIVE:

Veterans who enjoyed the meals asked if we could share what we were doing. So, @cookingwithaveteran was formed on Social Media (Facebook, Twitter (X), Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and Google). Every week Cooking with a Veteran Inc. produces videos to share recipes, tips-and-tricks, as well as ideas for stretching the dollar at home when it comes to food.

TAKING IT TO THE STREETS:

Working with several organizations during the pandemic, (like the VFW, American Legion, Scouts of America, Humana) @cookingwithaveteran started bring food to those in need throughout the community. During and after the pandemic @cookingwithaveteran provided meals to First responders (police, firefighters, EMTs), homeless veteran shelters, battered women shelters, and veterans in the community. Serving some 1500 within the local community.

@cooking with a veteran also worked with local VSOs, churches and leaders in the community to help bring awareness to social issues surrounding veterans within the community. Working with leaders throughout the area @cookingwithaveteran conducted programs and projects like Operation TP Pyramid, Shoes for Veterans, Trees for Troops, and providing safety gear for veteran shelters and homes in the area.

WORKING WITH THE NATIONAL HOME:

In 2022 @cookingwithaveteran moved to TN, and started working with the Military Order of the Cootie at the VFW National Home. Starting by working with Cooties during Cootie Christmas, and expanding to additional cooking classes and programs at the Home. This program includes a cooking class free to residents and staff at the home, helping to raise money for programs at the home, and providing meals to the families at the VFW National Home. To date @cookingwithaveteran in partnership with the VFW in TN has raised 20k for support to the VFW National Home.

WORKING WITH VETERANS BBQ CAMP:

In June of 2024 @cookingwithaveteran was introduced to the veterans at Hearty Hog’s Veterans BBQ Camp. Founder/Chef Dave and Grunt met them at one of their events and knew that we could do some great things together to help veterans. Shortly after meeting we were invited to join them at Nine Line Foundation Fundraiser in Savannah, GA to help them with their feeding of the Nine Line Foundation event at a 5K and Range Day. Cooking with a Veteran Inc. continues to assist Veterans BBQ Camp with classes and assistance for events as they can.

COOKBOOKS:

In 2023 @cookingwithaveteran started a series of Cookbooks called “FROM BLAND TO BAM” a series of books to help those that are looking for ideas to cook good meals on a budget, while also raising money to support the @cookingwithaveteran programs. These books can be found on AMAZON.

LEGISLATIVE WORK:

Cooking with a Veteran knows that it takes more than there is more to helping veterans than cooking meals, collecting products, and making videos.

Founder Dave Rogers works with legislators, veteran service organizations and others in the community to fight for veterans at the local and national level.

@cookingwithaveteran has traveled to state capitals and Washington D.C. to sit down with elected officials and discuss matters of importance when it comes to veterans, as well as advocating for veterans with service dogs.

Cooking with a Veteran has worked hard to communicate with officials about:

Burn Pits

Major Richard Star Act

Educational Funding for families of veterans

Improved quality at the VA

CoVid 19 legislation for the VA

Currently Cooking with a Veteran is working with elected officials on The Grunt Service Dog bill which will help veterans with service dogs at the VA.

CURRENT PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS:

VFW National Home: @cookingwithaveteran is still working with the VFW National Home to help families learn new cooking skills and provide food for them and their families as well as the staff.

Social Media: @cookingwithaveteran continues to conduct weekly video classes on social media, as well as a few live stream cooking programs on TikTok and Facebook.

On the streets: @cookingwithaveteran currently works with a few individuals and VSOs to provide cooking classes and programs within the community.

UPCOMING PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS:

@cookingwithaveteran is looking to do more remote cooking programs and classes, helping to feed veterans, raise money for fighting food insecurities, and support the VFW National Home.

The seal, Emblems, Badges and Insignia of “Cooking with a Veteran” shall be cross Serbian knives with a portrait of “GRUNT” affixed on top. No person shall use “Cooking with a Veteran” name, logo, emblems, insignia without the express permission of the President/Founder of the organization.

Publications. The name “Cooking with a Veteran” or any colorable imitation thereof, shall not be used by any individual, firm or corporation in connection with any publication, including electronic unless permission for the use of the name “Cooking with a Veteran” or some colorable imitation thereof has been granted to the publisher of such publication. Such permission will be license only subject to immediate revocation by the President/Founder with or without notice.