About Our Announcment

To Our Supporters, Volunteers, and Honored Veterans,

It is with both deep gratitude and thoughtful reflection that I share an important update regarding the future of Caring Patriots NFP and the programs that have served hundreds of Veterans and their families over the years.

For several years, Caring Patriots NFP has been incredibly fortunate to partner with Jewel, an organization that played a meaningful role in helping us grow from humble beginnings into a force of impact within our community.

From the earliest days—packing brown paper bags for over 1,500 Veterans in a year at the old sports dome in Bridgeview—to hosting large-scale Veterans Food Drives at locations in Romeoville and Palos Heights that feed over 1000 Veterans this partnership helped define who we are and what we stand for.

When the world slowed down in 2020, we did the opposite. With determination and innovation, we elevated our mission—raising funds to provide Veterans and their families with the dignity of choice by allowing them to shop in-store for the items they truly needed. This shift acknowledged something deeply important: every family is different. Some are raising young children, others navigate dietary restrictions or allergies—needs that simply cannot be met through traditional one-size-fits-all food distributions.

None of this would have been possible without extraordinary leadership and commitment. I want to extend my highest praise and sincere appreciation to David Goodwin, Jamal Hamideh, and Shari Alghren, whose leadership consistently demonstrated integrity, compassion, and a genuine commitment to our Veterans.

Equally deserving of recognition are the individuals who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to bring these events to life—Jasmina R., Ron S., Lynn, Debbie, RJ, Jesse, Christine, Terry, and so many others. Their dedication, preparation, and willingness to go above and beyond ensured that each event was not just successful, but impactful in ways that words cannot fully capture.

It is with disappointment, however, that I must share that due to internal decisions beyond our control, Caring Patriots NFP will no longer be able to continue this partnership or host collections at Jewel locations in 2026. This outcome was not aligned with our wishes and will undoubtedly affect many Veterans and volunteers who have come to rely on the yearly event and those support this mission year after year by giving of time to help collect donations.

Despite this challenge, our commitment remains unwavering.

We will continue to host an event in 2026 through a new partnership, ensuring that our Veterans are not forgotten. While this year may look different and potentially smaller in scale, we are already laying the groundwork for a strong and revitalized return in 2027—one that reflects the same passion, dignity, and service you have come to expect from Caring Patriots NFP.

We ask for your continued support, patience, and belief in our mission during this transition. Please stay connected through our website and email updates as we share details about this year’s plans and the exciting future ahead.

To everyone who has stood beside us—especially those who helped build something truly special alongside us—we thank you. Your efforts have changed lives, and that impact will continue far beyond any single partnership.

The only change is working with Jewel, all other partnerships remain and efforts to provide a solid year of assistance remain in process and plans will be shared of new location in due time .

With respect and gratitude on behalf of the entire board of directors.