Hosted by
VeteransEat Free
Wednesday, Nov 11th
Free hot breakfast • 8AM – 2PM • Veterans & spouses, including surviving spouses
In the heated tents next door to Long Island Cafe, 256 Helmer Rd N, Battle Creek
Brought to you by
What to expect
Hot buffet
Eggs, bacon, sausage, biscuits & gravy, potatoes, Biggby coffee, bottled water.
Heated tents
Three heated, enclosed tents with seating — come eat with other veterans and their families.
Who's welcome
All veterans, active-duty service members, their spouses, and surviving spouses. Bring a VFW card, military ID, DD-214, or similar if you have one — we just want to say thank you, nobody gets grilled.
11:00 AM
We'll pause for the national anthem and a moment of silence — the eleventh hour of the eleventh day.
Walk-ins welcome
No sign-up needed to eat. Just come.
Parking
On-site parking is limited and reserved for guests with disabilities and elderly guests; additional parking details will be posted here closer to the day.
Where to find us
Get directionsThe breakfast is in the heated tents on the lot right next to the cafe, at the corner of Helmer Rd N and 5th Ave. The cafe parking lot is reserved for guests with disabilities and elderly guests — more parking details coming soon.
Coming to eat? Tell us you're coming
Walk-ins are always welcome — no sign-up needed to eat. But if you can tell us you're coming, we'll cook the right amount.
Want to help serve? Sign up to volunteer
This form is for helpers, not guests. If you're coming to eat, use the form above.
We need about 40 people to serve, run food, bus tables, greet at the tent doors, and help with parking. One shift, 7:15 AM to 2:30 PM, breakfast included. Veterans serving veterans especially welcome.
What the day looks like for volunteers
- 7:00 AM
- Tent leads arrive
- 7:15 AM
- All volunteers arrive. Report to your tent lead at your tent (we'll tell you which tent the week before). Coffee and breakfast for volunteers.
- 7:30 AM
- 10-minute briefing: your station, how the line runs, where restrooms are
- 7:45 AM
- Stations stocked, first hot food arrives from the kitchen
- 8:00 AM
- Doors open. The first two hours are the busiest — all hands.
- 10:00 AM
- Break rotation begins (floaters cover you — take it)
- 11:00 AM
- Everything pauses for the national anthem and a moment of silence
- 11:15 AM – 1:30 PM
- Steady service, second break rotation
- 1:30 PM
- Last call on the line
- 2:00 PM
- Doors close. Group photo. Thank you.
- 2:00 – 3:00 PM
- Wipe tables, trash out, stack chairs. The tent company handles the tents.
What to wear / bring: Closed-toe shoes, layers (the tents are heated but the doors are busy), and your company shirt if you have one. We provide gloves, hairnets, and aprons.