Serving Our Veterans: Back To The Garden Partners With Veteran's Outreach
Some of the most meaningful things happen when a community comes together for a common cause. This summer, Back To The Garden has joined hands with Veteran's Outreach of Youngstown to honor our local veterans with a free, home cooked meal. Here is the story behind the partnership, and how you can be part of it.
A Partnership Built on Gratitude
The idea was simple. Back To The Garden wanted to find a real, hands on way to thank the veterans in our community, the people who gave so much so that the rest of us could live freely. Veteran's Outreach of Youngstown has long been a place where local veterans are supported and cared for. Bringing the two together felt like the most natural thing in the world.
Out of that shared purpose came the Veterans Appreciation Meal: a free, home cooked dinner, prepared and served by the Back To The Garden team, hosted at Veteran's Outreach. It is a small gesture compared to what our veterans have given, but it is offered with a full heart.
Why This Partnership Matters
Honoring veterans is not only about words on one day of the year. It is about showing up, in person, and treating those who served with the gratitude and dignity they have earned. A shared meal does something a thank you note cannot. It creates a moment of fellowship, where veterans are surrounded by neighbors who genuinely care.
This partnership also shows what is possible when a local business looks beyond its day to day work and asks how it can serve the community that supports it. Back To The Garden spends its days caring for homes and spaces across Northeast Ohio. This event is a chance to care for people instead, and to remind our veterans that they are valued, appreciated, seen, and loved.
About the Veterans Appreciation Meal
The Veterans Appreciation Meal is free for all veterans and takes place on Saturday, July 25, 2026, from 12:30 PM to 3:30 PM at Veteran's Outreach in Youngstown. Guests will be served a full home cooked meal, from homemade pasta and roasted chicken to fresh sides and dessert, all prepared with care by the Back To The Garden team.
July 25, 2026
Because each meal is prepared fresh, only 100 tickets are available and registration is required in advance. We strongly encourage veterans to reserve early so they do not miss out.
For the full menu, location details, and to reserve your free ticket, see our complete event guide.
View Full Event DetailsHow You Can Be Part of It
This event belongs to the whole community, and there are three simple ways to take part.
Attend, if you are a veteran
If you served, this meal is our way of saying thank you. Reserve your free ticket while spots remain.
Volunteer to serve
Lend your time to help prepare, serve, and honor our veterans on the day of the event. It is a meaningful way to give back.
Spread the word
Share this event with the veterans and families you know. The more our community helps spread the word, the more veterans we can reach and honor.
Help us join together in honoring those who gave of themselves so that we could enjoy the freedoms and way of life we cherish today.
"Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves."