For Carl "Hollywood" Davis, Service Didn't End With the Army

Carl "Hollywood" Davis spent four years serving in the U.S. Army. Today, years after leaving the military, he still considers himself to be serving others.

Only now, that service looks a little different.

Several days a month, Davis can be found at Feed Our Vets in Utica, New York, greeting fellow veterans, helping stock shelves and loading groceries into cars.

"I look at it as the extension of our service," Davis said. "It's veterans helping veterans."

Feed Our Vets partners with Food Bank of Central New York, a Feeding America partner food bank, to provide veterans, active-duty service members and their families with access to food through a shopping-style pantry model.

Davis first connected with Feed Our Vets after his sister encouraged him to stop by. What began as a simple visit eventually turned into more than a decade of volunteering.

For Davis, the pantry has become much more than a place to distribute food. "It's not just a food bank," he said. "It's a gathering place for veterans."

Veterans from different branches, generations and backgrounds come together at the pantry, sharing stories, checking in on one another and offering support.

"We speak the same language. We tell the same jokes," Davis said.

That sense of connection can be especially meaningful for veterans, many of whom are balancing rising costs, raising families or navigating life after military service.

For Davis, one of the most rewarding parts of volunteering is helping ease some of the pressure veteran families may be facing.

"That we're feeding veteran families, especially the ones with kids, that have to choose between bills and food," Davis said.

And for veterans who may be hesitant to visit for the first time, Davis has a simple message:

"If you're a veteran, come on down," he said. "You're our brothers from another mother, and sisters from another mother."

Read more about active military and veteran food insecurity.