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Feds Feed Families is in full gear throughout the DoD, NCR, AFDW

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Tabitha N. Haynes
  • Air Force District of Washington Public Affairs
Joint Base Andrews, Md. --  Food banks across the National Capital Region and around the country are facing severe shortages of non-perishable items this summer. Air Force District of Washington's 2012 Feds Feed Families campaign is in full gear on Joint Base Andrews, Md., to help fill the pantries of local citizens.

Feds Feed Families is an annual Department of Defense and National Capital Region initiative to raise awareness about hunger. DoD officials have set a goal of collecting 1.5 million pounds of nonperishable food and household products during this year's annual voluntary food drive.

This year, AFDW's goal is to donate 20,000 pounds of nonperishable food items to the local food banks. The goal can be achieved if each person brings in just 1 pound of items.

"It is a great opportunity to help out the local community," said Capt. Philip M. Lere, the Joint Base Andrews Feds Feed Families campaign project officer. "I encourage people to go through their pantries or make a special shopping trip to make a contribution."

Donations can be dropped off in the community boxes located in the commissary, Liberty Center housing and the chapels, or boxes located within individual units on JBA.

The top three donations the food pantries are looking for are canned fruits, canned vegetables and multigrain cereal. However, grains, canned proteins, soups, juice, condiments, snacks, baking goods, hygiene items, paper products and household cleaning items are needed as well. Items such as diapers and baby formula are always welcomed additions to food pantry shelves.

"There are over 700 different food distribution points in the NCR," said Lere. "Any contribution we make here on Andrews will be going directly to that underserved population."

The first food pick-up scheduled for July 25. The final pick-up on Andrews will be Aug. 26, giving AFDW 60 days to meets its goal.

"We will be making our drop offs to two major food banks in the NCR, which in turn will redistribute out to 700 [distribution points]," said Lere.

For more information about the Feds Feed Families campaign, or how to get involved, please contact a unit point of contact, listed below, or visit http://www.fedsfeedfamilies.gov/.
  • Capt. Philip Lere, Joint Base Andrews
  • Capt. David Howard, AFDW
  • 1st Lt. Sean Callahan, 11th Wing
  • Staff Sgt. Danyelle Johnson, 79th Medical Wing
  • Senior Airman Christina May, 79th Medical Wing
  • Petty Officer 1st Class Beverly Mathis, Navy
  • 2nd Lt. Alexandria Randall, 89th Air Lift Wing
  • Tech. Sgt. Fredrick Mabry, 89th Air Lift Wing
  • Master Sgt. Thersha Lewis, 459th Air Refueling Wing