U.S. Armed Forces veterans will be able to pick up free food items Saturday at the G.V. Sonny Montgomery VA Medical Center in Jackson.

The Drive-Thru Food Pantry is 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., distributing more than 250 pre-loaded boxes of perishable and non-perishable foods on a first-come, first-served basis. The panty is spearheaded by the GVSMVAMC Center for Development and Civic Engagement, formerly known as Voluntary Service.

This is a contact-less drive-thru, with packages distributed to veterans, caregivers and other eligible individuals who will not have to exit their vehicles. Veterans and caregivers will be required to show proof of identification to receive goods — a Department of Veterans Affairs or retired military identification card.

“The past several years have been filled with additional stressors,” said GVSMVAMC Chief of Center for Development and Civic Engagement Tony Bailey. “Throughout, our goal has continued to be meeting the needs of our veterans.”

“We began our Drive-Thru Food Pantry, affectionately known as Freedom Foods, in the middle of a global health crisis and have continued going strong each third Saturday of every month,” he said. “Some of our nation’s Veterans might be particularly at risk, and ensuring they have basic necessities like food and toiletries is one of our top considerations. These Veterans have already endured so much, and the G. V. (Sonny) Montgomery VAMC is always here to help.”