Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort -- Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort ended its 6th Annual Feds Feed Families Campaign to support food insecure households in the surrounding communities, Aug. 28.
According to the United States Department of Agriculture, the donations from the Feds Feed Families food drive are especially important because they come at a time of year when donations traditionally decline.
The 6th annual Feds Feed Families campaign collected approximately 4,000 pounds of non-perishable foods aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort and Laurel Bay, which were donated to the Lowcountry Food Bank in Yemassee. From there the food is distributed to 52 local agencies in Beaufort, Hampton, Jasper and Colleton counties, finding its way onto the tables of Americans in need.
“Feds Feed Families is a summer long food drive where non-perishable food and other items are collected to support families across America,” said Chief Warrant Officer Michael Chouinard, the Marine Corps Community Services officer for MCAS Beaufort. “Without access to nutrition programs, children and families across the country are at greater risk of hunger during the summer months.”
According to the USDA, an estimated 50 million people, or one in six Americans, struggle and face the realities of hunger. Since the campaign began six years ago, federal workers have donated and collected approximately 24 million pounds of food and other non-perishable goods such as hygiene items to support families across America.
“Feds Feed Families is one of our biggest food drives of the year,” said Benton Williams, the regional food center manager for the Lowcountry Food Bank in Yemassee. “It’s a way for us to help act as a support for the times when kids aren’t being fed daily at school for lunch. When those children have that vital source of nutrition cut off during the summer months, Feds Feed Families helps bridge that gap.”
The Air Station has already set high goals for next year’s campaign hoping to donate one pound of food per service member, Chouinard said.
“Each year, we see that the spirit of generosity and goodwill is strong and alive throughout our nation,” said Karen Comfort, the national program manager for FFF, in a press release. “Thank you to all of you that donated. Your donation, whether big or small, helped impact the lives of those who need it most.”