FORT DRUM, N.Y. (April 30, 2015) -- In their largest annual fund-raiser event, Fort Drum Volunteer Support Fund members put on their highly anticipated 24th Annual International Food Festival on April 24 at the Commons.
This year's IFF featured sushi, Cuban, Italian, Greek, German, Filipino and American food items.
Aside from eight international food booths, event coordinators added a military-themed, silent art auction with donated pieces from the community. River Hospital, of Alexandria Bay, donated art pieces. Glenn Sweet, father of fallen 10th Mountain Division (LI) Soldier, Spc. Jack T. Sweet, donated a hand-painted, wooden duck.
The VSF uses its proceeds to help pay for volunteers' child care costs throughout the year, according to Esther Howard, VSF's senior adviser. Every year, the VSF helps Fort Drum volunteers pay approximately $7,000 in child care costs.
"Our volunteers are important to us, because the installation runs better with our (Army) Volunteer Corps," Howard said.
As for the IFF, Howard said the community, as it has year after year, came together to make the event a success. From the USO, the Fort Drum Thrift Shop, Off the Beatin' Path Gift Shop, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Army and Air Force Exchange Services, Army Community Service, Fort Drum Mountain Community Homes, the Commons and several other organizations, individuals either volunteered or provided donations to help make the event one of the largest of the year.
For several years, the IFF has been sold out. This year, the Commons main ballroom quickly filled to standing room only.
"The problem is, people get their food and linger, so we don't have enough chairs for people to sit, but I suppose that's a good problem," Howard said.
For those who were able to get their food, sit and enjoy different food samples from around the world, the event was a good means of not only trying new cuisine, but also a great chance to get out and enjoy good company.
"This is a great opportunity to network, meet people and learn about different organizations," said Dani Thompson-Reed, Army Volunteer Corps coordinator. "Because Fort Drum (units are) highly deployed, who do you have? … (You have) each other. Overall, commanders want to see a great community."
For 1st Lt. Seth Prosser, his wife, Marisa and their children, this is their second festival. They missed last year's event when Prosser was deployed as a medical planner with 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team.
"We just like to come out and hang out with people and try different foods," Prosser said. "It's good for the kids to try different foods."
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