When I became National Program Manager for the 2014 Feds Feeds Families campaign—the sixth annual, nationwide food drive of Federal employees—I challenged Federal employees nationwide to help knock out hunger by supporting this year’s initiative. I had every confidence that our Nation’s civil servants would step up in a huge way. Feds have a tradition of generosity and answering the call whenever, wherever, and however they are needed. Even so, this year’s results far exceeded my expectations: 14.8 million pounds of donated food went to food banks and pantries across the country. That’s 7,400 tons of food this year.
Since 2009, the campaign has donated almost 39 million pounds of food to families and individuals in need. All Federal agencies across the country participated. Federal employees donated both perishable and non-perishable food items throughout the summer. This year Feds Feed Families also encouraged employees to take advantage of gleaning (clearing fields of unused produce).
But the amount of donated food, while impressive, is only half the story. The other half is the traditional timing of the Feds Feed Families campaign, which is over the summer months—this year from June 2 to August 31, 2014. That’s a time when children are out of school, and many face food insecurity. Their participation in USDA’s Summer Food Service Program is significantly lower than in our National School Lunch Program, which serves children during the school year.
At the same time, donations during the summer months drop because so many people go on vacation or travel, and many of us are just not thinking about giving like we do around the Holiday Season. So food demand increases as supply decreases. Feds Feed Families helps to fill that gap by providing a surge of donated food just as the inventories in many food banks and pantries begin to drastically dwindle.
This campaign remains as strong and important as ever six years later. USDA research estimates that, in 2013, 17.5 million American households lacked access to enough food for an active, healthy life for all household members. Many children felt the impact: 3.8 million households with children faced food insecurity at times during that year. For all these people, hunger is a very real struggle. Feds Feed Families continues to be a tremendous help to those in need.
As in prior years, donations made in the Washington, D.C.,-metropolitan area went to food banks in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia through a partnership with the Capital Area Food Bank. Other donations went to food banks and pantries across the country.
It was such a pleasure to end the campaign by giving hunger the slap down, the beat down, and a triumphant TKO. Agriculture Assistant Secretary for Administration Dr. Gregory Parham and representatives from across the Federal Government celebrated the campaign’s tremendous success at the Feds Feed Families Closing Ceremony on October 15 at USDA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. They also recognized the many acts of generosity by Federal employees nationwide. I was deeply honored and humbled to have worked alongside so many caring people who touched the lives of countless Americans in need.
