Photo by Gustavo Bahena, Public Affairs OfficeFort Irwin Commissary staff and Soldiers helped with the distribution of 6,500 pounds of donated food items in September 2012. The goal is to donate twice that amount for the 2013 Feds Feed Families food drive going on now.
The Fort Irwin Commissary began selling vouchers for the 2013 Feds Feed Families food drive campaign, June 29.
Vouchers can be purchased by Commissary customers for $9.96, plus a surcharge, through August 29. The purchase will go towards food items that will be donated to Desert Manna and the Veterans Home in Barstow. Food items include: long grain rice, pinto beans, canned corn, canned green beans, spaghetti noodles, spaghetti sauce, canned chili and cane sugar.
Desert Manna operates a homeless shelter and a food bank for the community in Barstow. Last year, the campaign provided 6,500 pounds of food items to Desert Manna. The food drive was overwhelmingly successful thanks to the amazing support of the Fort Irwin community, said Cynthia Hernandez, director of the Fort Irwin Commissary.
“This year, our goal is to double last year’s donations,” Hernandez said. “This goal cannot be attained without the support of this community. The tremendous success of the 2012 food drive was a credit to the exemplary efforts of this community and the staff at the Fort Irwin Commissary. Running a successful campaign requires a team effort, and leadership support is critical. ‘Feds Feed Families’ allows us to showcase how caring and giving our people are, and demonstrates our commitment to helping people in need.
Therefore, again for 2013, we, at the Commissary encourage you to support this program.”
This is the fifth year in which the United States Office of Personnel Management has requested the Department of Defense to participate in Feds Feed Families. For more information about the campaign contact Hernandez at 380-3560.