Tampa Bay Chefs Treat Veterans To Home-Cooked Meals

TAMPA, FL — Veterans at Liberty Manor in Tampa were treated to a meal to remember Dec. 3 when Tampa Bay Chapter of the American Culinary Federation chef members spent their Saturday cooking up a lunch of barbecue ribs, pulled pork and traditional sides for the veterans.

And this wasn't a one-time event, chapter chefs will return to cook two more meals for the veterans during the upcoming holiday season including their Christmas dinner.

Vanessa Marquis, chapter president, called it a labor of love.

“My father, both grandfathers and my husband all served in the U.S. Army," she said. "Veterans are near and dear to my heart. It’s the least I can do to give back and say 'thank you.'”

Chapter members are also collecting necessities for the veterans.

The chapter’s mission is the advancement of the culinary profession and culinary awareness through education and certification. The chapter's membership is composed of chefs, cooks, culinary educators, culinary enthusiasts, students and suppliers from Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas counties.

The chapter's primary outreach program is the ACF Educational Foundation’s Chef & Child Initiative, an ongoing program whereby chapter chefs go out into their communities to educate children and families in understanding proper nutrition by providing tools and resources for community-based programs led by American Culinary Federation chef members.

Liberty Manor for Veterans is located at 10015 N 9th St, Tampa. It provides housing and all social service resources necessary to achieve the goal of self-sufficiency for homeless veterans, which make up 23 percent of the homeless population.