Marauders, Shadow Battalions deliver over 1,000 boxes of food aid

Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 337th Brigade Support Battalion and 1st Battalion, 291st Brigade Support Battalion, 181st Multifunctional Training Brigade, delivered boxes of food and dairy products to community members of Sparta, Wis., April 7, 2021, at Memorial Park in Sparta.

In total, 24 pallets, consisting of approximately 50 boxes per pallet were distributed, which contained items such as milk, yogurt, cheese, potatoes, onions and other various produce. Boxes were prepared and delivered by the regional United States Department of Agriculture.

According to the USDA website, the USDA Farmers to Families Food Box program is part of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program.

“This community event, it helps a lot of families, especially families in need, and we hope we can continue this community outreach throughout the years,” Capt. Russ Cuajunco, the alpha company officer in charge for 1-337th BSB, said. “As long as the USDA is funding this and helping with the program, we will provide the man power to help support this.”

The two battalions were given the opportunity to help support the Sparta community through an Eagle Brigade Soldier that is a member of the Sparta Gospel Baptist Church.

“I have a major who is a member of my church, Maj. Philip Jorgensen of 1-337th BSB, and I asked him if there might be any potential to work with some folks in his unit, so he was the one primarily who set all this up,” Jef Skinner, the pastor for the Gospel Baptist Church, said.

Along with volunteers of the Gospel Baptist Church, the food boxes were handed out to help address the pandemic related spike in food insecurity within local families.

“I cannot imagine having better partners than Fort McCoy to come and partner with us to serve our community,” Skinner said. “I’m extraordinary grateful for all the folks who came here to help us today. What a great opportunity for us to serve people and serve our community.”

For Staff Sgt. Ny Han Lam, an automated logistical specialist with 1-337th BSB, it’s important that the Eagle Brigade continues to help support and strengthen bonds with the surrounding communities of the brigade.

“For me, it was an easy decision to volunteer to pass out these boxes of food to the Sparta community,” Lam said. “You just never know when one will need support from the other, so we are here showing that we support Sparta just as it support us.”

Capt. Natanael Maria, a logistics officer with 1-291st BSB, also stressed the importance of serving the community.

“There are unfortunately people in need, people that don’t have a lot of food in their refrigerator, and this helps to bring some food to their house,” Maria said. “To me, it’s very important that we, and the Army, give some of our time to the community and volunteer.

As of April 8, 2021, the USDA Farmers to Families Food Box program has delivered 155 million boxes of food nationwide since May 2020 according to the USDA website.

For more information about the Farmers to Families Food Box program, please visit:

https://www.ams.usda.gov/selling-food-to-usda/farmers-to-families-food-box