Base collecting food for Feds Feed Families annual drive

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VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  The fifth annual federal government-wide Feds Feed Families food drive kicked off July 12 at Vance Air Force Base and runs through Aug. 30.

This year's collection goal at Vance is 1,500 pounds of food, said 1st Lt. Christopher Hall, the point of contact for the food drive. "That equals almost 1,250 meals for area residents."

The first weigh-in of the food-drive donations will take place this Friday, said Hall. Everything collected at Vance is given to Loaves and Fishes of North West Oklahoma, a non-profit food bank in Enid.

"The Vance Commissary is the main collection point on base," said Hall. "Shoppers can purchase a pre-packaged bag of food to donate when they check out." The bag sells for $10 and contains 10 pounds of food.

Other collection points for donations at Vance include: the Vance Library, 71st Flying Training Wing headquarters building, 71st Operations Group, 8th Flying Training Squadron, 33rd FTS, 25th FTS, 71st Student Squadron, 71st Operations Support Squadron, 71st Medical Group and Building 200.

Since the U.S. Department of Agriculture kicked off the Feds Feed Families food drive in 2009, federal workers have donated more than 15.2 million pounds of food and other non-perishable items to support families across America.

More than 7.3 million pounds of food items were collected in 2012. The Department of Defense alone donated more than 2.1 million pounds last year.

"Feds Feed Families allows us to showcase how caring and giving our people are and demonstrates our commitment as a department to helping people in need," said Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton Carter.

Donations needed include: canned fruits, vegetables, meats and soups; multigrain cereals; grains; juice; healthy snack items; personal hygiene items; paper products and household cleaning items.

In Garfield County, one in four kids are at risk of going to bed hungry every night, said Hall. One in seven families is considered chronically hungry.

"In addition to food donations, Enid's Loaves and Fishes needs volunteers to keep the food pantry running," said Hall. For more information about volunteering, click on http://www.loavesandfishesnwok.org/volunteer.html.

For more information about the Vance Feds Feed Families food drive, call 1st Lt. Christopher Hall, 213-7195.