The journey home for some military veterans isn’t without its own battles.
The Joseph Center in East St. Louis fills the gap, providing transitional housing and supportive services for nearly 125 veterans each year. Now, the center has a new, healthy way of easing the transition from military to civilian life — home-cooked meals like mom used to make.
Accessing IL-EATS food products
The center recently expanded its menu options through a new partnership with the Illinois Department of Agriculture and Illinois Extension. The USDA Local Food Purchase Assistance Program provides states with funding to purchase locally sourced food from Illinois producers and distribute it at no cost to underserved communities. In Illinois, it operates as IL-EATS.
Because of IL-EATS, Operation Food Search, a hunger relief organization operating in 25 counties in southwest Illinois and southeast Missouri, can provide The Joseph Center with high-quality ground beef, poultry, pork, fresh vegetables, and fresh fruits.
“Access to protein is a lifesaver,” says Christopher Williams, executive director of The Joseph Center. “What we aren’t spending on proteins allows us to spend more on programming and resources for our veterans.”
In addition to increased quantity, the quality of the locally sourced products has changed how the center approaches its meal programs.
“We’ve hired chefs who are now cooking with premium, high-quality food,” Christopher says. These home-cooked meals set them apart from other organizations, he believes, and are especially important to the older veterans the center serves.
“We’re providing a whole meal with all the major food groups, something you might get at your mom’s house,” Christopher says.
Something as simple as a good meal helps remind veterans what “home” feels like — safety, security, love, a future.
Professional chefs create wholesome meals
That’s where Adonis Jackson and Lamone Waller, Sr. shine.
Each Tuesday, they unload the van to see what food has been donated to the center, then create their weekly menus based on what’s in the van. The quality of food provided through the IL-EATS program has allowed them to be more creative in their meal options.
“The quality of the food is more consistent,” says Adonis, “and that makes a big difference in what we can make. It allows us to offer more variety to our veterans.”
Adonis retired as sous chef in a local fine dining establishment. When he came to the Joseph Center five years ago, he had to alter his cooking techniques and learn to cook with just what they had available.
“It’s made me a better chef,” he says, and the 24 veterans he feeds benefit from that refinement. From the van, he pulled a large bag of cheese along with several pounds of ground beef provided by Mulberry Creek Meats.
“I’m going to make lasagna with this,” Adonis smiled.
Lamone smiled, too. He had his eye on a bigger prize: racks of pork ribs from Indian Point Ranch, processed locally by Wenneman Meat Company. The ribs will be a rare treat for the residents and a welcome change from chicken.
The chef enjoys cooking for the veterans.
“This place is setting people up for something better and helping them get to a better place,” he says. “They’re soldiers, so providing food means that’s one less thing to worry about.”
A typical lunch menu may include baked chicken leg quarters served with brown rice and steamed mixed vegetables. “It’s simple, filling, and balanced — exactly what our residents need to stay nourished and focused on their recovery goals,” Christopher says.
Local farmers support IL-EATS
Christopher is a fan of the IL-EATS structure that connects farmers locally to the Illinois communities they feed. A few of the cooperating farms they receive food from include Three Rivers Farm in Elsah, which provides collard greens and other vegetables, Liberty Apple Orchard in Edwardsville, which provides apples, Indian Point Ranch in Vienna, and Mulberry Creek Meats LLC in Bartelso, which supplies beef products.
“It’s the development of a positive ecosystem,” he says, as well as supporting the nutritional needs of veterans.
Regaining purpose at The Joseph Center
The Joseph Center, operated by Eagles Nest of St. Clair County, empowers homeless male veterans to self-sufficiency and economic independence.
“Veterans often lose a sense a purpose,” Christopher says. “You fight for your country and come home hoping to see that the community you fought for is there to help veterans get back on their feet."
The 26-bed transitional housing center is one of the services available to all veterans, regardless of their discharge status. It serves around 125 veterans a year.
“We support veterans during any stage of their life and any stage of their career,” Christopher says, and remove barriers that other facilities may place on veterans.
A group of veterans sat outside to enjoy a lunch meal of barbecue wings prepared by Chef Adonis, along with salad and watermelon. They speak of challenges they face trying to navigate the various Veterans Affairs (VA) systems and figuring out what comes next for each of them.
“This is the first time this has happened to me,” says Veteran Terry Rector, who was evicted after losing his job. “I’ve never asked anyone for anything before. I want to get back in my own place.”
Larry Strong has relied on the center while he faces medical procedures. While grateful for the assistance, these men look forward to the day they’re in their own homes, preparing their own meals, and sleeping in their own beds.
The average age of veterans at the center is 60, and many face challenges from mental health to substance abuse. Each veteran receives an individual treatment plan that helps them build healthier coping habits and break negative thought patterns.
The center provides for the physical needs of the veteran, including housing, clothing, food, personal care, and trauma-informed counseling while helping them manage their needs.
Veterans can participate in activities that build needed life skills. Operation Food Search offers cooking classes to prepare veterans for the transition home. They can explore courses at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville offered through the G.I. Bill. Off Base Transitional Training provides computer literacy and career training. The Center has an on-site computer lab, community garden, and workout equipment.
“We want them to stay busy,” says Christopher, who came to the Center in January 2023. He grew up in a military family and often draws on that experience as he counsels veterans. He previously worked with acute populations with all forms of mental health diagnoses and holds a Master's in Business.
“This work lets me blend my mental health and business degrees with my passion for the military community,” Christopher says, “as we navigate the many resources offered through the VA.”
For veterans in the East St. Louis area, healing begins with a healthy meal shared around the table with fellow veterans. By supplying higher quality and a greater variety of locally sourced food to the Joseph Center, IL-EATS is providing a nutritious foundation for their recovery journey.
One can learn more about The Joseph Center by calling 618-271-4673 or emailing Christopher at cwilliams@thejosephcenter.org.