At the Armed Services YMCA’s Five Star Food Market in Killeen, Thursday mornings have become something more than grocery pick-up days. For many military families stationed at nearby Fort Cavazos, these mornings bring relief, routine, and a sense of belonging.
Inside the market, shelves and bins are stocked with fresh produce, pantry staples, and kid-friendly favorites. Volunteers move briskly, restocking milk, sorting bread, and greeting neighbors by name. Families leave with a little more stability, a little less worry, and the assurance that someone cares.
Three military spouses — Megan, Alexis, and Michelle — sat together with their children to share with CTFB staff what this pantry means to them in a season filled with uncertainty.
“This is the only pantry I know that really tailors to children,” Michelle said. “They’re friendly, they remember your face, and when you have people genuinely greeting and accepting you, it makes the biggest difference.”
That kindness comes at a critical time. Between delayed paychecks, rising living costs, and deployments that stretch families thin, every bit of support matters.
The women described the strain of managing two households on a single paycheck, keeping their homes running while also covering everyday costs for their deployed spouses — meals, toiletries, and commissary expenses. With government-issued travel cards suspended during the shutdown, many families have found themselves paying for both sides of military life.
At home, challenges pile up. They’re facing uncertainty about mid-month pay while juggling rising food and gas prices, medical bills, and the steep cost of childcare that makes it difficult for many spouses to work outside the home.
“It’s stressful,” Alexis said. “We’re saving everything we can for groceries, gas, or emergencies. You don’t know what kind of Christmas you’ll have, but at least you know the pantry’s there. My kids get excited when I come home — ‘What did you get this time, Mom?’ They see Lunchables or cereal cups, and it feels like something normal again.”
Even small comforts — a familiar snack, a can of pumpkin pie filling — take on deeper meaning.
“Seeing the stuffing or pie filling on the shelves, that’s one less thing to worry about,” Alexis said. “Our kids don’t see the stress. They just see food on the table.”
The women describe the market as both a lifeline and a gathering place, somewhere to be supported and to support others in return.
“It’s security,” Michelle said. “We know where we’re going on Thursday.”
“And it’s community,” added Alexis. “We bring dishes, we share meals, the kids play, and we lean on each other. We’re not alone in this.”
For many younger military families, the need for food assistance can feel invisible — and sometimes misunderstood. Despite steady employment, rising costs near military installations, unpredictable benefit structures, and the price of essentials like housing and childcare, many families still find their budgets stretched thin.
It’s a reality that community partners like the Central Texas Food Bank and the Armed Services YMCA are working to bring into the light. Hunger and hardship should never be the price of service.
For these families, the Five Star Food Market represents more than a source of food. It offers continuity, care, and dignity in a season defined by uncertainty.
“If someone’s anxious about coming to a pantry,” said Megan, “I’d tell them: you’re not alone, and you’re not judged here. We’re all here for the same thing — to make sure our families eat.”
Stories like these remind us that service doesn’t end when uniforms come off. It continues in every community that rallies to care for those who serve.
Together, through partnerships like these, we can ensure that every family — active duty, veteran, and civilian alike — has the food, stability, and connection they need to thrive.
