FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. - In just two weeks, members of the Fort Meade community have donated nearly two tons of nonperishable food to food banks and soup kitchens in the area.
The food drive is part of the national Feds Feed Family Campaign that kicked off July 18. Since then, the installation has collected 3,886 pounds of food. The campaign will continue until the end of August when the total donation weight will be added up.
The food drive is "a government-wide effort led by Chief Human Capital Officers Council and partnered with the Office of Personnel Management, the Department of Defense and the Department of Agriculture." The campaign aims to help stock food banks in the National Capital Region, according to the campaign's website.
"Agencies partner with the government to feed the homeless and military families also, anybody in need of food," said Pam Anderson, the Information, Referral and Follow-up program manager at Army Community Service.
The Feds Feed Family Campaign set a goal of 2 million pounds of food. According to the campaign website, the campaign raised 1,648,767 pounds of food in the month of July. The DoD aims to raise 733,800 pounds of food to contribute to the campaign before the Aug. 31 deadline.
Anderson said installations such as Fort Bragg, N.C., and Fort Drum, N.Y. are just a couple of the other participating installations that will help the DoD reach its goal.
Anderson is leading the charge at Fort Meade, collecting food at the commissary and with drop-boxes at Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation organization offices.
Last week, Anderson collected 686 pounds of food, which was then delivered to a nonprofit organization in the area. On Monday, she collected more than 3,000 pounds of food from the commissary.
"I think that it's a wonderful thing," she said.
Once food is collected, Anderson adds up the total weight and transports the donations to a food bank. Instead of donating it all to one organization, Anderson has been spreading the food around -- boxes are delivered to a different organization every week.
Anderson said she likes to focus on nonprofit groups outside of post that are not government-funded and have a dire need for the food. However, she also has been distributing food on the installation.
Nonperishable foods such as canned vegetables, canned fruits, cereal, juices and soup are accepted. The Feds Feed Families Campaign also collects personal hygiene products such as diapers, toilet paper and tooth paste, and household supplies such as paper towels and cleaning supplies.
To donate to the Feds Feed Families campaign, bring nonperishable foods to the ACS facility at 830 Chisholm Ave. or to the drop boxes at the Fort Meade Commissary on Mondays and Tuesdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Donors also may call Anderson to pick up goods. "I'll be more than happy to pick up the food," she said.
While Anderson does not have a set goal for how many pounds of food she would like donated, she said the community is stepping up to help those in need.
"I really do think this is wonderful right now," she said. "A lot of people are generous and they help out a lot."
For more information about the Feds Feed Families Campaign, call Pam Anderson at 301-677-4107.
Editor's note: You also can donate food at the Directorate of Family, Morale, Welfare and Recreation office, Child Development Centers 1, 2 and 3, the Middle School Center (Building 909), Central Registration, The Lanes bowling alley, Murphy Field House and Gaffney Fitness Center.
Social Sharing