Woodman’s Gives Away Groceries to Military Family

Woodman’s Markets, sausage and deli meat provider Eckrich, and nonprofit organization Operation Homefront have given an Omro, Wis., military family $5,000 in free groceries – with a little help from award-winning country music singer Easton Corbin.

Backstage before a concert in Madison, Wis., Corbin surprised the Vandeyachts with the gift of free groceries at Janesville, Wis.-based Woodman’s. The family then watched him perform in the Storyteller Tour headlined by Carrie Underwood.  

Sgt. 1st Class Jon Vandeyacht served in the U.S. Army from 1991 to 2013, deploying to Iraq three times. He and his wife, Mary, have a daughter.

The event was part of the ongoing campaign by Lisle, Ill.-based Eckrich to honor, thank and support military families through its partnership with Operation Homefront. The Vandeyachts take part in Operation Homefront's Hearts of Valor program, a network of caregivers for wounded, ill or injured service members. The organization helps the caregivers through annual retreats, support groups and online communities.

Since 2012, Eckrich, a division of Smithfield Foods, has donated more than $2 million to San Antonio-based Operation Homefront. Now through July 4, the company will donate 5 cents for every purchase of specially marked products, up to $500,000, to the organization.