JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. - In Pink tutus and with huge smiles plastered on their faces, the "Pretty Pink Princesses" crossed the finish line first during the 10th annual scavenger hunt June 12.
Members from several teams gathered nonperishable food items for the Fish Food Bank Network, which helps military families in need, and "raced" to locations throughout Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
Syl Wiles, an administrative assistant at the Soldier and Family Assistance Center and a volunteer coordinator for the event, said this year bringing Army and Air Force together took center stage and reaped hefty results.
"This is our most successful year yet," Wiles said.
Close to 3,000 food items, $180 in cash donations, and gift certificates to grocery stores totaling $150 were collected for the food bank, she said.
"Food bank donations in general are down and usage is up 40 percent this year," Wiles said.
The scavenger hunt caps off a drive to collect food and money from units and organizations from all around JBLM and the surrounding communities, she said.
"If we collect the food and people have fun, that's the important part," Wiles said.
Supporting the food bank also directly supports Soldiers, Airmen and Sailors in the area, she said.
From junior enlisted to command staff, supporting the cause resulted in a successful drive, Wiles said.
"Next year, I hope it's even bigger," she said.
Airman 1st Class Casey Dwyer said that manning one of the scavenger-hunt locations was a good volunteer experience.
"It feels great to give back to the community," Dwyer said.
Dwyer said he would gladly do it again next year.
I Corps Command Sergeant Major Frank Grippe said he didn't mind hosting one of the scavenger locations at his home on JBLM Lewis Main.
"I'm glad to help out," Grippe said to Wiles when she thanked him for offering up his Saturday morning.
Grippe's JBLM McChord Field counterpart, Chief Master Sergeant Gregory Warren, said he was surprised by the number of military families that are in need of the food bank's services.
"There are Soldiers and Airmen who have been hit by the tough economy," Warren said. "They are asking for help - our help."
Rick Wood is a reporter with Joint Base Lewis-McChord's weekly newspaper, the Northwest Guardian.
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