COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Nearly 400 military families went home with food, and they didn’t even have to take a trip to the grocery store.

“The military is about selfless service, we serve the community and it’s always nice when the community reaches back out to us,” said Sgt. Brian Clements, who is in the U.S. Army.

Service members, retirees, reservists and their families were able to pick three boxes of food filled with non-perishable food, fruits and veggies – all worth at least $200.

“I can feed my family comfortably and I like that. My kids love to eat, they’re big vegetable eaters, big fresh fruit eaters – and that stuff’s expensive. So you know, the more you can get, the better off you really are, and the healthier they are, and I really appreciate that,” said Kyla Whitted, whose husband is in the Army.

The Coalition To Salute America’s Heroes, the Mt. Carmel Center of Excellence, Care and Share, and Pikes Peak Community College all teamed up for the event ahead of Patriot Day.

“We have 5 children. We have a big family and this helps us out, every little bit,” said Jennifer Mclelland, who is in the Army Reserve.

The coalition says it’s their way of saying thank you for their service and they hope it makes a difference, especially in a city that can be costly to live and work in.