How One Family’s Simple Idea Became a Movement

In the winter of 2021, as my wife, Lisa, and I prepared to welcome our first child into the world, we realized we were unprepared for the journey of parenthood that lay ahead. We wanted him to grow up knowing charity as a habit—something we did every day, not as a chore or a one-off event, but simply part of our routine. Beyond sleep schedules and diaper changes, there was a deeper lesson waiting for our son: the meaning of kindness in action. We wanted more than polite “please” and “thank you”; we wanted a way for our child to understand compassion firsthand.

Months later, with our baby boy now beside us, we made a simple decision: don’t let perfect get in the way of good. Drawing on our New York roots, we gathered the cold-weather gear we’d collected over the years—backpacks, duffel bags, socks, hand warmers—and packed seven small care-bags. With our little boy toddling beside us, proudly carrying a pair of gloves, we set out to distribute them downtown. To our surprise, nearly everyone we met was a veteran or connected to one. We found ourselves drawn to their stories—stories of service, sacrifice, and the sometimes unforgiving streets.

Word spread. Chris Mitchell—a Grammy-nominated jazz musician born and raised here who’d faced homelessness himself—joined our effort, as did City Councilman William Ferguson, who helped us coordinate with the local VA. What began as seven backpacks swelled to fifteen, and then twenty. Community members from right here in Sugar Land—and as far away as California—donated funds and supplies. In a matter of months, we’d raised nearly $20,000 and delivered almost eighty fully stocked "Patriot Packs.”

Through every bag we handed out and every hand we shook, one truth kept resonating: the people helping us, and the people we were helping, were bound by a shared veteran connection. That realization crystallized our purpose. It was time to turn this grassroots effort into something permanent—an official nonprofit dedicated to honoring and supporting those who’ve served.

Thus, Operation Patriot Packs was born. The name reflects our origins as a small “operation” in action, a mission fueled by patriotism and the simple power of a backpack filled with hope. Today, we continue to stand alongside veterans and their families,