Teriyaki beef is the main course. A few visitors stretch their shirts to carry as much fruit as possible.

And in the rear, Fred Hamilton is serving something completely different.

''Are you a veteran?'' the retired Army recruiter asks, firmly placing his left hand on an older man's shoulder.

''Sit down,'' he politely pleads. ''Give me five minutes.''

There are about 160,000 veterans in Utah. But Utah is typically below the national percentage of veterans who get pensions or compensation for service-related injuries, according to federal statistics.

Why? Many are unaware of what's available or believe the aid is akin to welfare, advocates say.

''What I tell them is these are benefits you've earned,'' said Hamilton of the Utah Department of Workforce Services, who has been pursuing veterans for more than a year.

''We're fixing it now. The word wasn't getting out,'' he said.

Utah lawmakers agreed to spend $175,000 this year - a $100,000 increase - to reach more veterans who might qualify for federal help.

Utah veterans received $161.1 million in pension or disability payments in the 2004-05 budget year. By comparison, Maine's veterans got $294 million, although there are 13,000 fewer in that state.

Veterans injured during active duty can be eligible for monthly compensation.

Pensions are in a separate category. Age, disability, income and service in a war zone are among the criteria.

Veterans, of course, could be anywhere. Hamilton, 59, makes weekly visits to the St. Vincent de Paul Center.

His personal touch seems just as valuable as coming up with the right paperwork. Hamilton looks people in the eye and will dash to his car if he believes someone down on their luck needs extra clothes. Sometimes he just listens.

''No. 1, I establish trust,'' he explained. ''You have to have a heart for the person.''

Hamilton recently met Adolph Lucero, who served at the Army's Fort Lewis in Washington state from 1970-72.

Lucero, 56, lacks a steady job and a stable place to live. He wants to know if a nagging back problem from his Army days qualifies him for financial assistance.

''I want to be productive. I want to go back to school and work, too,'' Lucero said, throwing on a backpack. ''This is the only outreach I've come across. It's always a big secret nobody tells you. You have to look for it.''

Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion also help by reaching out to veterans in other parts of the state, such as Richfield, Panguitch, Cedar City and St. George.

Since 2005, Hamilton has found at least 100 veterans who qualify for pension or disability payments.

''My goal every day,'' he said, ''is to make a difference in someone's life.''

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