Feds Feed Families initiative

by Airman 1st Class David Bernal Del Agua
22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

8/4/2014 - MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan.  -- McConnell Airmen, along with the base commissary, are participating in a large scale food drive this summer.

The Feds Feed Families program was created in 2009 by the Department of Agriculture to support families in need. It starts in June and runs through the end of August each year.

"The local community contributes a lot to McConnell Air Force Base," said Senior Master Sgt. Charles Puffer, 22nd Logistics Readiness Squadron deployment and distribution flight superintendent. "The community is so supportive of us, and this event is McConnell's way of saying thank you."

The program was established so civilians could make food donations, but it has grown over time.

"It morphed from federal civilian employees to anyone who wants to help," said Puffer.

The commissary worked with venders to get discounts on certain items and prepared bags for half the original price.

"We're asking our venders through the commissary to donate so we can give back as well," said Tingerle Hannan, McConnell Air Force Base Commissary secretary. "While we haven't been given a goal this year, we just want to help as much as we can."

Food donations are still being accepted, and will be distributed after the Aug. 31 due date to different charities and food banks across the country.

"So far we have collected more than 1,500 pounds of food here," said Hannan.

The event was institutionalized at McConnell one year after the initial campaign started.

"I've been doing the Feds Feed Families program at McConnell for the last four years," said Hannan. "We're getting together with other bases all across the country and trying to collect donated food to give back to local charities and food banks."

The Air Force is one of several contributors. As a whole, the Department of Defense collected more than 1.9 million pounds of food last year.

"Bases all across the country participate in this event," said Hannan. "It's not just the Air Force. It's the Army, the Marines, and the Navy. They are all doing the Feds Feed Families program."

Donations can be made at the commissary or by contacting your squadron's points of contact.