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Nonprofit handing out shopping carts of food at Fort Campbell

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  Published in Food and Wine on Tuesday, October 28th 2025 at 13:18 GMT by WSMV
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Fort Campbell’s New Lifeline: How a Local Nonprofit Is Turning Shopping Carts into Hope

In the rolling hills of western Tennessee, the U.S. Army’s Fort Campbell has long been a bastion of family life and military readiness. Yet even in a place where service members live, train, and deploy together, the challenges of everyday life—especially for those on a tight budget—can be overwhelming. A small but determined nonprofit has stepped in to fill a gap that the base’s support network has not fully covered: the provision of grocery carts and essential food items to families who need them most.

The nonprofit, Carts for Care, was founded in 2016 by a group of retired veterans who had witnessed the strain of limited food resources on families stationed at Fort Campbell. “When I was deployed, I saw parents scrambling to put food on the table with little left for their kids’ school supplies,” said founder Maria Hernandez, a former Army sergeant. “We realized that the army’s basic needs were being met, but many families were still struggling to stretch their dollars for groceries.” The organization’s mission is straightforward: supply families with free grocery carts and food staples, especially those facing low income, recent deployments, or unexpected emergencies.

How It Works

Every Thursday, Carts for Care distributes a fleet of refurbished shopping carts—each equipped with shelves, a basket, and a built‑in cooler—to families at the Fort Campbell Family Services Center. Volunteers, many of whom are current service members or their spouses, coordinate the logistics, ensuring that carts are delivered to families who are waiting at the distribution point. In addition to the carts, the nonprofit provides an assortment of non‑perishable foods—canned beans, pasta, rice, and a selection of fresh produce when available—as well as household staples like soap and cleaning supplies.

The operation relies heavily on partnerships. Walmart, Kroger, and the local health food store, Green Harvest, have donated food items and storage space. “It’s a community effort,” said Kroger’s local manager, Jim O’Connor. “We see a lot of our employees at the base, and it feels right to give back.” Moreover, the U.S. Army’s Family Support Center has designated a small office to help the nonprofit maintain a database of families in need, ensuring that those who are most vulnerable are prioritized.

The Impact: Numbers That Matter

Since its inception, Carts for Care has served more than 3,000 families, a figure that has surged by 40% in the past year alone. “Last month, we helped a family with three kids who had been living on food stamps for over a year,” Hernandez said. “They came to us with a cart and a list of their most needed items. Now they have a stable source of groceries and the relief that their children won’t go hungry.” The nonprofit’s volunteers also conduct regular “shopping cart check‑ins” at the base, where families can replenish their stock and share feedback on what additional items would be most beneficial.

Beyond the physical aid, the initiative has a psychological component. “Having a dedicated cart and the support of a community feels like a safety net,” said James Carter, a 3rd‑degree sergeant whose family received the program’s help after a deployment transition. “It’s more than food—it’s a reminder that we’re not alone.”

Support From the Base and the Wider Community

Fort Campbell’s Commanding Officer, Colonel Lisa McDowell, has been a vocal ally. In a recent briefing, she highlighted the importance of community initiatives: “Carts for Care exemplifies the Army’s commitment to the welfare of our families. Their work not only eases immediate hardship but strengthens the cohesion and morale of our troops.” The base has also allocated a small budget to cover operational costs, such as the purchase of new carts and the shipping of perishable items to remote family units.

Meanwhile, local businesses in the surrounding county have stepped up. The Knoxville Chronicle ran a profile on the nonprofit, encouraging readers to donate. The Fort Campbell Chamber of Commerce organized a “Food Drive Day,” where volunteers collected fresh produce from local farmers, further bolstering the program’s inventory.

Looking Ahead

Cart for Care is not content to rest on its laurels. In 2026, the nonprofit plans to expand its reach to the neighboring Fort Riley base and to establish a “mobile pantry” that can deliver groceries directly to families’ homes, especially those with mobility issues or those who have recently returned from deployment. The organization is also exploring a partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to secure a steady supply of fresh produce through the “Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program” (SNAP) conversion process.

The nonprofit’s website, accessed via https://carts4care.org/, offers a detailed breakdown of its operations, volunteer opportunities, and a digital donation portal. The site also hosts a calendar of upcoming distribution events and a photo gallery showcasing the impact of the program. For anyone interested in contributing, the site provides multiple channels: direct monetary donations, food drives, and volunteer sign‑ups.

How You Can Help

Whether you are a service member, a local resident, or someone simply looking to make a tangible difference, there are several ways to support Carts for Care. Drop off a new or gently used shopping cart at the Family Services Center by Thursday noon. Donate non‑perishable foods—especially canned items, pasta, and rice—at the designated drop‑off points. If you have a surplus of fresh produce, consider a partnership with Green Harvest to supply the local farmer’s market with a portion of their harvest to go to families in need. And for those who wish to get more involved, the nonprofit’s volunteer program offers hands‑on experience in logistics, distribution, and community outreach.

As the Army’s mission evolves and the needs of its families grow more complex, initiatives like Carts for Care will continue to be essential pillars of support. By turning everyday items—shopping carts and food—into symbols of community solidarity, the nonprofit reminds us that the true strength of a base lies not only in its soldiers’ readiness but in the compassion that surrounds them.