Parker’s Kitchen Serves Up $300K for Wounded Veterans
If you’ve ever been asked to round up your purchase to the nearest dollar at a gas station or grocery store, you might wonder, does a few cents really make a difference? What you don’t always see is the collective impact of all those who said "yes" before and after you. What if your spare change was, in fact, life-changing?
The Round Up Campaign allowed customers to round their purchases to the nearest dollar at Parker’s Kitchen registers and support WWP.
That’s what happened in 2024 when Parker’s Kitchen — an award-winning convenience and food service company with 100 stores in Georgia and South Carolina — partnered with Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) to support injured veterans, their families, and caregivers. Through their Round Up Campaign, Parker’s Kitchen raised $300,000 for WWP — exceeding its initial $250,000 goal and proving that small acts of generosity do add up.
A Community-Driven Campaign
The Round Up Campaign gave customers at all Parker’s Kitchen locations the opportunity to round up their purchases to the nearest dollar, with every cent directly benefiting WWP. With major military installations like Fort Stewart, Parris Island, and Fort Eisenhower nearby, Parker’s Kitchen has deep ties to the military community. Its customer base includes over 1.4 million veterans, many of whom are part of the neighborhoods they serve.
The campaign’s impact was further amplified by Parker’s Kitchen, which matched 25% of each customer donation. This extra commitment helped push the total funds raised to $300,000, providing essential programs and services for wounded warriors and their families.
Jacob preparing to take off as an enlisted flight instructor on a strategic training mission in a Black Hawk helicopter near Seoul, South Korea.
How Support Changes Lives
The impact of this campaign extends far beyond the numbers. Supporters like Parker’s Kitchen and its customers empower WWP to change and save lives every day. Their generosity helps fund critical programs that address mental health, financial wellness, and physical recovery for warriors, their families, and caregivers.
Army veteran Jacob Norotsky is one of many warriors whose life has been changed by WWP’s programs. After his father, a Vietnam veteran, died by suicide, Jacob felt called to serve. As a Black Hawk helicopter crew chief in Iraq, he faced intense combat. Jacob’s aircraft was hit 36 times in a single mission, an experience that left him with severe injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
When he returned home, the transition was anything but easy. Physical pain and mental health struggles left him in a dark place, but WWP provided a turning point. Through Project Odyssey®, an adventure-based mental health program, Jacob realized he wasn’t alone.
“The realization that I’m not alone and I’m not broken — it was absolutely amazing,” Jacob says.
Jacob standing in front of one of the Cessna 172 airplanes he flew during his flight training at Auburn University, on his way to becoming an instrument-rated pilot.
Today, Jacob shares his story nationwide, helping other warriors discover the support available to them. Thanks to partners like Parker’s Kitchen, warriors like Jacob don’t have to be alone. They have a community standing beside them. Every donation, no matter how small, fuels life-changing programs that help warriors heal and move forward.
Strength in Numbers: A Shared Mission
Parker’s Kitchen’s ongoing commitment to veterans doesn’t stop there. In March 2025, the company will relaunch the Round Up Campaign with a new target — $350,000 — to expand its impact even further.
"At Parker’s Kitchen, we believe it’s extremely important to support veterans who have bravely defended our freedom,” said Parker’s Kitchen CEO Brandon Hofmann. “We’re excited to support Wounded Warrior Project through our second annual round-up campaign and hope to make an even bigger impact on the lives of local veterans as well as their families and caregivers in 2025.”
For warriors like Jacob, support from companies like Parker’s Kitchen is more than just a donation — it’s a lifeline. It’s a reminder that their sacrifices are not forgotten and that people across the country are here for them, both today and for years to come.
“We’re thrilled to partner with Parker’s Kitchen for the second year to offer ongoing support for veterans, families, and caregivers,” said Brea Kratzert Todd, WWP vice president of business development. “We must never forget the cost of freedom. Wounded Warrior Project is there for warriors and their families throughout their lifetime. Amazing supporters like Parker’s Kitchen make that support possible.”
Learn more about how you can support wounded warriors.
Contact: Gracie Scribner, Public Relations, gscribner@woundedwarriorproject.org, 904.489.5295
About Wounded Warrior Project
Since 2003, Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) has been meeting the growing needs of warriors, their families, and caregivers — helping them achieve their highest ambition. Learn more about Wounded Warrior Project.
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