For the past three and a half years, Amber Hudson has volunteered 24/7 to make M.A.S.H Pantry (Military and Service Heroes) successful. M.A.S.H is a Non-profit charitable food pantry serving the low income and homeless veterans, Armed Forces, their families and survivors of the Columbus metropolitan area. Amber, a Navy veteran started the food pantry because of her dedication to honoring our heroes. M.A.S.H opened in May 2015 at a temporary location sharing space with Veterans First Foundation, Inc. The pantry has events and food drives and resources in Franklin County and Pickaway County to educate the veterans as to what benefits they are eligible to receive.
Amber says that she has personally had many hardships in her life, however, she has made it through the storm and back. “Everyone goes through their own kind of struggle, but it is how you move forward and live your life from the experience. To make the Pantry possible, I pawned my Jeep Wrangler and three diamond rings for the initial filing fee application to receive non-profit status. Since then, I have experienced the joy in helping my fellow veterans in need. This has become my mission in life and I can only hope I make a difference.”
When she worked at the Columbus VA Hospital, she listened to the veteran’s needs and became aware of their challenges. “The veterans, active duty, and homeless give me inspiration. I feel I treat them with dignity and give them hope. That’s how M.A.S.H Pantry started. I will advocate for veteran hunger until their needs are met.” Amber is inspired daily by her three amazing sons; Ian, Matthew, and Evan and has a strong support system in Elaine Fowler, Vice President of M.A.S.H Pantry, along with Cate Rinehart, Sharron Kay, Phil Lytle, volunteers, veterans, and active soldiers who believe in her cause.
Amber has formed a partnership between M.A.S.H Pantry and Mount Carmel West Hospital and served 100 former homeless Veterans a Thanksgiving dinner. Her vision is to reduce hunger throughout the Veteran and Active Duty community of Franklin County and concentrate on the low income and homeless population of veterans. In addition to that, Amber hopes to promote self-sufficiency by making the best possible use of all available resources. “No veteran, no military family, and no survivor will go hungry….at least not on my watch!”
Amber’s plans for the future are to continue with her outreach. “Our purpose should be to aide and assist our local heroes. In addition, we need to teach our children (students) who the true heroes are in this world. It is our moral obligation to promote US History and the Heroes behind the stories to each student. Our future depends on it.”
To find out more about M.A.S.H Pantry and ways you can donate, please visit: www.mashpantry.org; www.facebook.com/mash.pantry