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JBSA News
NEWS | June 28, 2017

Feds Feed Families Food Drive seeks JBSA participation

By Robert Goetz 502nd Air Base Wing Public Affairs

Members of the Joint Base San Antonio community have an opportunity to donate food items to those in need through a federal campaign that began June 1 and will conclude Aug. 31.

 

The Feds Feed Families Food Drive, which has collected nearly 70 million pounds of food since 2009, is a U.S. Department of Agriculture campaign that is coordinated at the local level by Federal Executive Boards, forums for communication and collaboration among federal agencies outside of Washington, D.C.

           

Feds Feed Families was created to help food banks and pantries stay stocked during summer months when they traditionally see a decrease in donations and an increase in need,” said Lisa Alonzo, Alamo Federal Executive Board executive director. “The San Antonio Food Bank partners with more than 500 nonprofit organizations throughout our 16-county services area and receives collections and distributes throughout this network.”

           

Each agency or organization at JBSA that wishes to participate in this year’s FFF campaign is responsible for registering and setting up an account with the San Antonio Food Bank site at www.safoodbank.org, notifying AFEB of its participation and coordinating with the designated food bank point-of-contact for drop off and logging pounds through their online platform, Alonzo said.

           

“It is up to each organization whether or not they will obtain the signature red food bank barrels or not,” she said.

           

Those who donate to the campaign are asked to bring nonperishable food items, Alonzo said. The most-wanted items are peanut butter, cereal, tuna, beans, rice, macaroni and cheese, chili, canned stews, canned soups, canned luncheon meats, full meals in a can or box and pop-top food items.

           

“Donations of healthy snacks and fresh food – fruits, vegetables, herbs and nuts – can made directly to the food bank,” she said. “Anyone taking in these types of food items should provide the organization POC with information to build into their online tracking.”

           

The Feds Feed Families campaign helps stock the shelves of the San Antonio Food Bank, which serves 58,000 individuals each week, Alonzo said.

           

Through its network of more than 500 partner agencies along with its own direct service programs, they are capable of distributing millions of pounds of food and groceries a year to combat hunger,” she said. “Those impacted include children, seniors, working poor, single parents, veterans and the homeless.” 

           

Food drives combat a problem that affects one in six Americans, Alonzo said.

           

“The latest USDA estimates show food insecurity impacted 14.3 percent of American households at some point,” she said. “No matter where you live, there are folks in your community who work hard but have trouble putting food on their plate. This is a very real problem that federal employees in small towns and big cities across the country can help address.”

            

For more information about the food drive, call Alonzo at 565-1861. To contact the food bank POC, call Chloe Palacios at 431-8310.