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AFRC collects food for Feds Feed Families

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Shanda L. De Anda
  • Air Force Reserve Command Public Affairs
ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  Volunteers in Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command wrapped up their first season participating as a lead agency in a Feds Feed Families food drive Aug. 28. They collected more than 1,425 pounds of food to help feed people in need locally.

The Feds Feed Families campaign is a voluntary effort undertaken by federal employees and servicemembers to collect non-perishable items for local food banks.

Although the campaign began six years ago and AFRC employees and families have participated in the past in local collection efforts through the commissary and other collection points, this was the first time the headquarters has taken the lead as an organization.

"We really wanted AFRC to have its own footprint in the local community," said Rachel Cox, action officer for the HQ AFRC effort.

Although Cox obtained command leadership support early, the paperwork and approval for this inaugural event at AFRC needed to go through its due process.

"It took over two months to get final approval, which did not give volunteers a lot of time, but with only two weeks to go, they did well," said Cox, resource advisor for the AFRC Communications Directorate. "Our 16 volunteers really helped get the word out, and the command as a whole seemed to really take on this cause as their own."

Feds Feeds Families allows an organization to choose the agency it wants to support, and collecting donations to feed local families motivated many of the volunteers.

"I volunteered for the ability to help those around us in our local area who are in need and to give back some of my good fortune," said Tech. Sgt. Daniel Bricker, NCO in charge of AFRC's global command and control systems, who has been at Robins AFB for four years.

Jodi Todd, a budget technician in AFRC Financial Management, also volunteered.

"The ability to help someone else is the greatest gift in the world, and you never know when you'll be in need," said Todd, who has worked at the base for 26 years. "I like doing things for other people, and we're hoping this opens doors for other possibilities for the command to be involved in the future ... maybe another food donation or something similar around the holidays.

"Doing something for other people helps take your mind off of your own problems," Todd added. "Seeing the need that exists also helps you appreciate what you have."

A volunteer at the Middle Georgia Community Foodbank estimates the AFRC donations will help feed to help feed "at least a couple hundred families."