MHAFB supports Feds Feed Families food drive

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  • 366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho --  The base commissary is currently working with other government agencies to support the 2011 Feds Feed Families food drive, which runs through Aug. 31.

Gunfighters who visit the commissary will see a marked bin near the entrance and exit where they can donate nonperishable food and daily-hygiene items.

"All the food is getting distributed to different places in need, throughout the military," said Michael Howell, store director here.

The most-needed items for donation include:
-- Canned vegetables: Low sodium, no salt
-- Canned fruits: In light syrup or their own juices
-- Canned proteins: Tuna, salmon, chicken, peanut butter and beans
-- Soups: Beef stew, chili, chicken noodle, turkey or rice
-- Condiments: Tomato-based sauces, light soy sauce, ketchup, mustard, salad dressing or oils
-- Snacks: Individually packed snacks, crackers, trail mix, dried fruit, granola and cereal bars, pretzels and sandwich crackers
-- Multigrain cereal
-- One-hundred-percent juice: All sizes, including juice boxes
-- Grains: Brown and white rice, oatmeal, bulgur, quinoa, couscous, pasta and macaroni and cheese
-- Paper products and household items: Paper towels, napkins, cleaning supplies
-- Hygiene items: Diapers, deodorants (men's and women's), feminine products, toilet paper, tissues, soap, toothpaste and shampoo

The food drive is coordinated by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management and the Chief Human Capital Council to encourage federal employees to help supplement food banks across the country.

Last year, the food campaign set a goal of collecting 1.2 million pounds of food and other essential goods. They surpassed that goal by receiving 1.7 million pounds in donations.
This year, organizers have raised the bar with a goal of reaching 2 million pounds.

Despite the best efforts of the MHAFB commissary, the current amount of food donated is far from its own ultimate goal of 100 pounds per week.

"It has been really slow so far, and we could use some more support," said Howell.

The Feds Feed Families campaign grew out of the Serve America Act that created "United We Serve," an initiative that urged Americans to contribute to the nation's economic recovery by helping their communities.

"We hope many installations will be participating in the program," said Randy Eller, the chief of the Defense Commissary Agencies' grocery/specialty division.

For more information on the 2011 Feds Feed Families program, visit http://www.fedsfeedfamilies.gov/index.aspx, or call the base commissary at 828-2286.

(Courtesy of Defense Commissary Agency Public Affairs.)