DOD launches Feds Feed Families food drive

  • Published
  • By Jolene Cantrell
  • 17th Force Support Squadron
GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  In many ways, America is the land of plenty. But for 1 in 6 Americans, hunger is an all too familiar reality.
Many people believe the problems associated with hunger are confined to small pockets of society, certain areas of the country, or certain neighborhoods, but the reality is much different.

Right now millions of Americans are struggling with hunger. These are often hard-working adults, children and seniors who simply cannot make ends meet and at times are forced to go without food.

During the summer season, children have limited access to school nutrition programs and food banks across the nation face severe shortages of non-perishable items. Stepping up to meet this challenge, Federal employees nationwide are set to gather 1.2 million pounds of food for families in need this summer with "Fed Feed Families".

This Federal-wide campaign offers a great opportunity for the Department of Defense family to help those who lack the resources to provide food for themselves and their families.

Deputy Secretary of Defense, William J. Lynn helped launch the third annual DOD "Feds Feed Families" food drive campaign May 26. The DOD goal is to collect 733,800 pounds for distribution to local food banks nationwide.

The campaign's national co-chair and DOD representative Pat Tamburrino, Jr., who is also the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Civilian Personnel, said, "This campaign gives us the opportunity not only to help others, but to showcase what it means to be a true public servant. We are proud of DOD's support of this food drive for the last two years - our employees have given a lot thus far, and we are looking forward to gathering even more food in this final 60 day push in the campaign. We will need everyone's help to reach our Department goal of 733,800 pounds as well as the Federal Government's goal of 1.2 million lbs of food, but we can do it."

In order to encourage the widest possible donations to support America's families in need, DOD expanded the campaign by calling on the military services and defense agencies to become engaged in this effort. By expanding the campaign, military installations, organizations, Commissaries, now have an opportunity to participate.

Goodfellow has heeded the challenge and will have collection boxes located throughout the installation, as well as manned collection drives on the weekends at the Commissary and various locations off base. Look for updated times and locations on flyers around the base and on the Goodfellow Hotwire link located on the right hand side of the Goodfellow website, www.goodfellow.af.mil.

For more information or to volunteer at a drive location, contact Jolene Cantrell at (325) 654-3785 or jolene.cantrell@goodfellow.af.mil, or Stephanie Flynn at (325) 654-4959 or stephanie.flynn@goodfellow.af.mil.