May 22, 2026

VIDEO: Our Founder's Story & Commitment to Veterans

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Hometown Hero was founded on one simple mission: to give people the freedom to feel better and live fuller lives. And a core part of our identity from the beginning has been supporting U.S. veterans in need.

So how did this come about? Watch our founder share his story of service and how it inspired Hometown Hero's identity.

Lukas Gilkey, U.S. Coast Guard Veteran

Service runs in Lukas’ family, as both his father and his grandfather served in the U.S. Army. Shortly after high school, Lukas joined the U.S. Coast Guard, serving as a Telecommunications Specialist 2nd Class on the USCGC Chase as part of the Boarding Team in various operations, including counter-narcotics, from California to Alaska.

Though he had never been deployed to a combat zone, Lukas had many friends and family members who had been. Witnessing the lasting impact their service had on them, he made supporting veterans the foundation of Hometown Hero from day one, actively donating to nonprofits before the company was profitable.

"I don't think most people comprehend what our soldiers deal with to protect our country and our freedom. It is very humbling to hear stories from soldiers who were in combat zones and understand the sacrifices that they made for the rest of us. Those guys are heroes." - Lukas Gilkey

A Plant of Promise

farmer inspecting cannabis buds as they grow

Hometown Hero wasn’t always a cannabis company. When we first started out in 2015, we sold smoke shop products. But with ongoing praise from veterans for the benefits of cannabis and Texas legalizing hemp in 2019, we saw an opportunity to grow in a new direction and better support the community we set out to serve.

Organizations We’ve Worked With

Hometown Hero presenting donation to VFW

Since our founding, we’ve had the privilege of working with many nonprofits that have made a positive impact on the lives of U.S. veterans. Some of these organizations include Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Texas Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), K9S For Warriors, Chive Charities, and more.

What Memorial Day Means to Us

At Hometown Hero, supporting veterans isn’t some seasonal campaign. It’s core to who we are. It’s a commitment that shows up in everything we do, whether it’s the nonprofits we partner with or our fight to keep cannabis accessible to veterans and all who benefit from it.

Whether you’ve been part of this ride with us for years or you’re a newcomer, we thank you for being part of our mission. And if you’re a veteran, we hope you know your service will always be recognized and honored at Hometown Hero.

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VIDEO: Our Founder's Story & Commitment to Veterans

Table of Contents

Lukas Gilkey, U.S. Coast Guard Veteran

A Plant of Promise

Organizations We’ve Worked With

What Memorial Day Means to Us