Guardsmen bring food, hope to community during COVID-19

By Spc. Hannah TarkellyJuly 20, 2020

North Carolina Army National Guard Spc. Louis Merino, assigned to 2-130th Airfield Operations Battalion, sorts produce while working alongside volunteers from Team Rubicon, a veteran disaster relief service organization, Action Pathways, a non-profit organization, and the Second Harvest Food Bank Southeast to distribute food to approximately 250 families at the Midway Elementary School in Dunn, N.C., June 18, 2020. The NCNG is working with North Carolina Emergency Management, N.C. Department of Health and Human Services and local food banks to help support COVID-19 relief efforts.
North Carolina Army National Guard Spc. Louis Merino, assigned to 2-130th Airfield Operations Battalion, sorts produce while working alongside volunteers from Team Rubicon, a veteran disaster relief service organization, Action Pathways, a non-profit organization, and the Second Harvest Food Bank Southeast to distribute food to approximately 250 families at the Midway Elementary School in Dunn, N.C., June 18, 2020. The NCNG is working with North Carolina Emergency Management, N.C. Department of Health and Human Services and local food banks to help support COVID-19 relief efforts. (Photo Credit: Spc. Hannah Tarkelly) VIEW ORIGINAL

Soldiers from the North Carolina Army National Guard's 449th Theater Aviation Brigade worked alongside volunteers from Team Rubicon, a veteran disaster relief service organization, Action Pathways, a nonprofit organization; and the Second Harvest Food Bank Southeast to distribute food to about 250 families at the Midway Elementary School in Dunn, North Carolina.

Guardsmen assigned to the 2-130th Airfield Operations Battalion and the 1-130th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion worked together with local organizations to help feed citizens during COVID-19.

"It's a very humbling experience," Army Sgt. 1st Class Jason Norris, assigned to the 1-130th ARB, said. "You actually get to see, face to face, the families that you're helping."

North Carolina Army National Guard Chief Warrant 2 Greg Preston (left) of the 1-130th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion works along side Claudia Suarez, a volunteer for Team Rubicon, a veteran disaster relief service organization, to move produce during the Second Harvest Food Bank Southeast food distribution at the Midway Elementary School in Dunn, N.C., June 18, 2020. The NCNG is working with North Carolina Emergency Management, N.C. Department of Health and Human Services and local food banks to help support COVID-19 relief efforts. (North Carolina Army National Guard photo by Spc. Hannah Tarkelly, 382nd Public Affairs Detachment/Released).
North Carolina Army National Guard Chief Warrant 2 Greg Preston (left) of the 1-130th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion works along side Claudia Suarez, a volunteer for Team Rubicon, a veteran disaster relief service organization, to move produce during the Second Harvest Food Bank Southeast food distribution at the Midway Elementary School in Dunn, N.C., June 18, 2020. The NCNG is working with North Carolina Emergency Management, N.C. Department of Health and Human Services and local food banks to help support COVID-19 relief efforts. (North Carolina Army National Guard photo by Spc. Hannah Tarkelly, 382nd Public Affairs Detachment/Released). (Photo Credit: Spc. Hannah Tarkelly) VIEW ORIGINAL

The guardsmen helped distribute meals and fresh produce such as potatoes, apples, watermelons, oranges, lettuce and meat.

As food rations dwindle and unemployment rises, families have found themselves in difficult circumstances. Therefore, the Guard is working with state agencies and local food banks to help support COVID-19 relief efforts.

"It feels good," Army Spc. William Best, assigned to the 2-130th AOB, said. "You actually get to see that you're making a difference."

Team Rubicon worked alongside the guardsmen during the food distribution to help provide the community with nutritious meals and produce. Team Rubicon and the guardsmen communicated and worked in an organized fashion to distribute an accurate amount of food to each family in an efficient and timely manner.

"It's a wonderful working relationship," Norris said. "The camaraderie these groups have is absolutely astounding."

North Carolina Army National Guard Spc. Louis Merino (right), assigned to 2-130th Airfield Operations Battalion, places food in a vehicle alongside Mark Heinlein, a volunteer for Team Rubicon, a veteran disaster relief service organization during the Second Harvest Food Bank Southeast food distribution at the Midway Elementary School in Dunn, N.C., June 18, 2020. The NCNG is working with North Carolina Emergency Management, N.C. Department of Health and Human Services and local food banks to help support COVID-19 relief efforts.
North Carolina Army National Guard Spc. Louis Merino (right), assigned to 2-130th Airfield Operations Battalion, places food in a vehicle alongside Mark Heinlein, a volunteer for Team Rubicon, a veteran disaster relief service organization during the Second Harvest Food Bank Southeast food distribution at the Midway Elementary School in Dunn, N.C., June 18, 2020. The NCNG is working with North Carolina Emergency Management, N.C. Department of Health and Human Services and local food banks to help support COVID-19 relief efforts. (Photo Credit: Spc. Hannah Tarkelly) VIEW ORIGINAL

Team Rubicon's efforts have made a tremendous impact in helping with COVID-19 relief operations. Volunteers from across the state gathered to dedicate their time and help fellow Tar Heels in need.

"It's been a pretty amazing dynamic," Claudia Suarez, a volunteer for Team Rubicon, said. "As a volunteer I've worked with the National Guard in the Patriot Southeast exercise and now here at the food bank. We're two different organizations, but we have similar missions and similar goals as humans."

(Army Spc. Hannah Tarkelly is assigned to the 382nd Public Affairs Detachment.)

Related Links

Army.mil: National Guard News

Army.mil: Worldwide News

U.S. Army COVID-19 Guidance

Defense.gov