Our Team
Melinda Froess
Executive Director
Melinda has been Executive Director of Honor Veterans Now / Meals for Vets since July 2021 and has been a volunteer and Board Member since its conception in 2015. During her time as Executive Director, she has focused on developing and implementing innovative programs to feed Veterans, conceiving ways to provide outreach, working with constituent groups, building and retaining an excellent and enthusiastic staff, overseeing and coordinating the budget, and leading Honor Veterans Now / Meals for Vets through periods of growth and change. Melinda earned her Bachelor of Science from the University of California, Davis, and her Associate of Science-Business from Sierra College. In 1998, Melinda founded and still owns a successful energy compliance consulting firm. She is also a licensed Real Estate Salesperson. Melinda is the proud daughter of Honor Veterans Now’s Founder Walter T. Wollny, an Airforce Veteran. She is also a granddaughter of Clarance R. Allen, a Navy Veteran. She enjoys gardening, traveling, and restoring old homes. Melinda lives with her awesome Husband and a very, very special Pug.
Tim Thompson
Deputy Director
Tim joined Meals for Vets in June 2023, bringing with him a strong foundation in leadership and service. He proudly served eight years in the U.S. Navy as a Master-at-Arms before pursuing new opportunities in education and technology. While working full-time, he earned his Associate’s Degree in Information Technology, made the Dean’s List, and was inducted into the National Honor Society of Leadership and Success. He is now advancing his studies toward a Bachelor’s Degree. Tim is passionate about mission-driven leadership, innovation, and community impact, and he enjoys helping others, exploring the outdoors, flying drones, and spending time with his wife, Saphire, and their three children.
Hope Mitchell
Veteran Outreach & Support Supervisor
Hope started with the organization in April of 2018. She’s had the privilege of working with Veterans for the past seven years, including being a support coordinator in Veteran services with a behavior health authority in Central Texas. She has two grown children, a daughter and a son who is a combat Marine Veteran and lived with her for 15 months after he got out of the service. Hope was born and raised in San Antonio. Her father was in the Army and her brother in the Coast Guard. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in animal science from Southwest Texas State University. Hope enjoys kayaking, gardening, and anything outdoors.
James Simons
Grant Writer
James started working with Meals for Vets in April of 2020 and has submitted 168 grant proposals, of which 57 have been funded, for over a million dollars. He has 15 years of grant writing experience with multiple Texas state agencies and universities. James has a PhD in Oceanography from Texas A&M University and served 22 years in the US Army Reserve. James lives in Fredericksburg with his wife Vicky, their daughter Emily, a Bernese Mountain dog, two cats, two turtles, and 14 chickens.
Walter Heard
Veteran Support Coordinator
Walter joined our organization in May of 2022. He served in the Army from 1972-1975, attended the University of Wyoming, graduating in 1981 with a BA in Political Science and MA in International Studies in 1985, and spent 30 years in the transportation/freight industry. Walter lives in Fredericksburg, Texas and has been married to his wife, Norma, for 40 years and have two grown children, Megan & Kevin, and three grandchildren, Asher, Parker, & Connor.