Colorado Springs veterans service gives back for Patriot Day

Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center in Colorado Springs hosted a big event Friday to give back to the local military community.

Mayor John Suthers was the featured speaker at opening ceremonies for the Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center Patriot Day Give Back. The event near the Mt. Carmel Campus provided approximately 400 families and individuals from the local military and veteran community with a substantial gift of non-perishable food, hygiene items, and other goods.

“This event is Mt. Carmel’s annual recognition of the sacrifice military, veterans, and their families have made, and continue to make, since the attacks on Sept 11, 2001,” said Bob McLaughlin, Mt. Carmel Chief Operating Officer.

Mt. Carmel partnered with Rockyard Brewing, Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes, Feed the Children, Care and Share Food Bank for Southern Colorado and 4kidzsports to conduct the annual event.

Mt. Carmel reached out to local military installations and the veteran community to pre-register 400 receiving families and individuals, the estimated maximum capacity of the event.

After opening ceremonies, recipients drove up and presented a pre-issued voucher to receive their gifts. Any extra food and goods were provided to local veteran-focused non-profit organizations with food pantries.