McNamara Headquarters Complex employees can make a difference in whether others go to bed hungry by donating food to the 2017 Feds Feed Families food drive, which runs through August.
The 9th annual government-wide campaign gives federal workers an opportunity to contribute nonperishable items for local food banks and pantries that traditionally see a drop in donations during the summer. Collection boxes are located at the main entrance and pods 1, 7 and 9.
Most-wanted items for the Capital Area Food Bank include canned or dry beans; peanut butter; canned vegetables; grains; hot and cold cereal; canned tuna, salmon or chicken; canned fruit; juice; and healthy snacks like raisins and granola bars. Donating these types of items rather than cookies and crackers, for example, also contributes to the health and wellness of recipients, said Jody Giacoman, program coordinator for DLA Installation Support.
Nearly 70 million pounds of food have been collected for those in need since the program began in 2009, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which runs the program. In 2016 alone, more than 12.6 million pounds were donated and provided to food banks and pantries.
More information is available at the Feds Feed Families website. Employees cay also donate online via the Department of Defense campaign website .