FORT BRAGG, N.C. -- According to the Hunger in America 2010 report, hunger and food insecurity continues to be a devastating problem throughout the state of North Carolina.
In an effort to help combat this problem, 1st Sustainment Command (Theater) Soldiers from Fort Bragg gave back to the local community Dec. 9 by volunteering with the Second Harvest Food Bank at a collection point in the Raeford Road Harris Teeter parking lot in Fayetteville.
ABC 11 Eyewitness News sponsored the 29th Annual Heart of Carolina Food Drive to raise food and monetary donations to service 34 counties throughout central and eastern North Carolina.
The food drive took place from Nov. 20 to Dec. 9 and ended with a culminating event called "drive-thru day" with drop-off locations in Raleigh, Durham, Cary and Fayetteville, N.C.
"We don't want anyone to go hungry especially through the holidays," said Kristen Christie, Food Resource coordinator with the Second Harvest Food Bank. "There is about a 19.6 percent food and security gap, so those are families who are not sure where their next meal is coming from. That equates to about a hundred and fifty five thousand people."
The Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina is a nonprofit organization that has provided food for people at risk of hunger for more than 30 years. The food bank serves a network of more than 800 partner agencies to include soup kitchens, food pantries and shelters.
"This is a great opportunity for Soldiers to take a little time out of their busy week and come and support their community with the kind of energy they demonstrate at work," said Lt. Col. Dennis Villarreal, deputy command chaplain, 1st TSC.
Throughout the day, Soldiers were busy unloading and sorting dry and canned goods delivered from vehicles. Items were then loaded onto a large semi-truck that would be repackaged and redistributed to the local community centers.
Pfc. Singh Prabhjot, native of La Habra, California and production load list clerk for the 1st TSC motor pool takes volunteering to heart. Since enlisting in the Army a year and a half ago, this was his third opportunity to give back to the community.
"I feel blessed to be able to give to people who aren't as fortunate as I am to be able to eat," said Prabhjot.
According to ABC 11 Eyewitness News, this year's food drive was able to yield about 500,000 meals, which exceeded the original goal of 400,000.
For more information about the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina and how you can help go to http://www.foodbankcenc.org
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