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ATTLEBORO - The cupboard in the veterans services office is bare no more.

By Tuesday afternoon, $1,060 worth of supermarket gift food cards had been donated by people concerned about the plight of veterans who sometimes need short-term help buying groceries for themselves and their families.

The generosity was spurred by a news story Saturday in The Sun Chronicle in which city officials made an appeal for food card donations to help veterans who are short on cash, but may not qualify for veteran programs.

The response was overwhelming, said a stunned Director of Veterans Services Peter Rego.

"I was surprised and very impressed," Rego said. "I was super-impressed. This should take us through the winter." Administrative assistant Connie Uriot said she was taken aback by the outpouring.

"I never expected this much," Uriot said. "I think it's fantastic. We're not going to run out for a long time."

Uriot said the generosity came from eight individuals who walked into her office throughout the day and plopped the cards on her desk.

She said one person donated $400 worth of food cards and other donated $250 worth of cards.

Veterans most often in need are from the Vietnam War era, Uriot said. They'll come up short on cash when they're looking for work and turn to the city for help.

The food cards are not part of an official program, but are something the city has made available to veterans who come in looking for help.

If veterans don't qualify for any programs, officials say they can at least walk out of the office with a food card.

GEORGE W. RHODES can be reached at 508-236-0432 or at grhodes@thesunchronicle.com.