Celebrity Chef and Houston Volunteers ‘Box-Up’ Gratitude for Local Heroes

The smallest gesture can sometimes make the biggest difference. Some call it acting in “service above self”. 

Volunteers with Team UP recently gathered at Comcast Texas’ headquarters in Houston to give back to local veterans. The volunteers joined U.S. Vets representatives and Celebrity Chef Robert Irvine to put together gratitude kits for veterans. They started by writing notes to express their appreciation for their service. It was a touching moment described best by Comcast employee and veteran Tom Baker. 

“It’s interesting to see how people pour their hearts out so quickly on a veteran’s note. They don’t know them. They don’t know what their service was. It doesn’t change the amount that they care about that veteran,” Baker said. “There were a lot of great messages written down. I just know that when someone opens that up it’s going to change the way they feel.”

Care kits are often sent to combat zones, military installations and veterans’ housing. Carol Eggert leads Comcast Military and Veteran Affairs team and participated in the Team UP activity. She said their value can’t be understated.

“Care kits can make all the difference in the world,” Eggert explained. ”Comcast is an amazing organization. We care about the communities we serve. We do more than just provide them services. We go out and determine the needs of the community and support that community. We share such a like-mindset with our military community.”

Robert Irvine is a world class chef, fitness authority and philanthropist. He’s well known for his TV shows Dinner: Impossible and Restaurant: Impossible which air on the Food Network. He started the Robert Irvine foundation which travels the globe to help support service members, veterans and their families. Irvine said it’s vital we recognize their contributions to this country and lift them up whenever possible. He also participated in the Team UP event.

“I think my job was to beat the drum to let people know what our military does and continue to do that,” Irvine stressed. “The room behind me is putting individual stuff behind me into a bag to go to someone they don’t know. I think that’s the biggest thing. Service above self.”