Fort Rucker participates in Feds Feed Families

By Jeremy Henderson, Army Flier Staff WriterJune 19, 2015

Fort Rucker participates in Feds Feed Families
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT RUCKER, Ala. (June 19, 2105) -- Federal employees donated more than 14 million pounds of food to feed families in need last year and a new partnership makes it easier than ever to give back to the local community.

For this year's Feds Feed Families campaign, Army Community Service partnered with the commissary to provide donation drop-off locations where potential contributors purchase their own food.

"People tend to contribute more food if the contribution drop-off point is located where they purchase their own food," Mike Burden, ACS financial readiness manager, said. "We've placed contribution drop-offs in different locations during previous food drives and people had to bring food from home or purchase food elsewhere to bring to the drop-off point. "

Food items needed for the campaign include: Canned vegetables: low sodium, no salt; Canned fruits: in light syrup or its own juices; Canned proteins: tuna, salmon, chicken, peanut butter and beans; Soups: beef stew, chili, chicken noodle, turkey or rice; Condiments: tomato-based sauces, light soy sauce, ketchup, mustard, salad dressing or oils; Snacks: individually packed snacks, crackers, trail mix, dried fruit, granola and cereal bars, pretzels and sandwich crackers; Multigrain cereal; 100 percent juice: all sizes, including juice boxes; and Grains: brown and white rice, oatmeal, bulgur, quinoa, couscous, pasta, and macaroni and cheese.

The commissary partnership also provides another convenient method for delivering the food to families in need, said Jess Lira, assistant commissary officer.

"Once we receive all of the donations, since we are closed on Monday, we bag everything up on Monday," he said. "We weigh each bag and price it. We contact the Wiregrass Area United Way Food Bank, who is taking care of us, and they pick it up on Tuesdays. They pick up the bagged donations and make them available to families in need."

According to Lira, each bag contains a well-rounded and healthy meal for a family.

"The program's guidelines call for certain types of foods to be included in each bag," he said. "The guidelines ensure each family who receives a bag is given a nutritious meal."

Burden said the Wiregrass Area United Way Food Bank serves all the surrounding communities and provides the best possible positive impact.

"The Wiregrass Area United Way Food Bank is a great partner for this effort," he said. "They provide essential foods at low cost for families in need.

"It's about taking care of families," he added. "It's really a payback to everyone who supports the military in our area and is in need of food."

Since the campaign began in 2009, federal workers have donated and collected nearly 39 million pounds of food and other non-perishable items to support families across America, according to Burden. More than 85 percent of federal workers live and work outside the Washington D.C. area, so the program helps communities in every state. In 2013, employees collected nearly 9 million pounds of food. In 2014, federal employees donated a total of 14,849,380 lbs.

For more information, call 255-9631 or visit http://www.usda.gov/fedsfeedfamilies.

Related Links:

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USAACE and Fort Rucker on Facebook

Fort Rucker, Ala.

U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence

Feds Feed Families