Gianforte Highlights Community Support For Veterans In State
Rounding out Invest in Veterans Week, Gov. Greg Gianforte highlighted community support for veterans at the Montana Veterans Meat Locker in Billings.
“Because of the sacrifices of service members and their families, we live in the greatest country on Earth,” Gianforte said. “While our debt to them will never fully be repaid, we can offer support to and invest in the veterans who make our communities stronger. The Montana Veterans Meat Locker is helping serve those who have served our country.”
Combat veteran Chris Grudzinski and his wife, Kristin, established the Montana Veterans Meat Locker in 2016 to provide free, professionally processed wild and domestic meat to veterans. Since then, the organization has delivered more than 200,000 pounds of meat to veterans.
As word about their efforts spread in the community, donations of wild and domestic meat from local businesses, ranches, and residents increased. These donations enabled the Grudzinskis to expand their support to widows of veterans and Gold Star families. Due to a partnership with 4th Avenue Meat Market, a local processor, part of the processing fee is waived for any animal donated to the Montana Veterans Meat Locker.
Visiting with Chris and Kristin, the governor heard from the couple about what the Montana Veterans Meat Locker represents.
“With our program, this isn’t just for anyone who is struggling; this is for every veteran,” Chris Grudzinski said. “This is a thank you for service. This is how Montanans, this is how ranchers, this is how hunters say thank you for that sacrifice.”
During the visit, Grudzinski also highlighted the Veteran Support Network in Montana and shared of his work through the organization to help veterans with housing, employment, and upskilling.
“The Veteran Support Network is where we step in to support at-risk veterans with housing and employment,” Grudzinski said. “We ask them what would help them and then help them get better opportunities to be employed.”
