Photo By Sgt. Fredrick J. Coleman | Staff Sgt. Anthony Devoy,a native of Lincoln, Neb., and avionics technician with...... read more read more
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MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. – What originally started as a few collecting drums scattered around Naval Air Station Miramar in 1990 grew into a valuable resource for the air station's Marines, Sailors and their families.
The station's food locker, sponsored by Miramar's branch of the Navy, Marine and Coast Guard Wives Club of America, offers a variety of food packages to the station's families who need to save a few dollars on groceries according to Peg Brandenburgh, the founder of the station's food locker.
Service members, married or single, could spend as little as $15 or as much as $33 for a food package that would include anything from fresh bread to eight-ounce steaks, explained Brandenburgh.
The food packages come from Golden Share Foods, a fruit and vegetable broker that supplies the different food packages to the food locker, explained Rita Riddick, a 10-year volunteer at the food locker.
Active duty service members and their families can pick up fresh bread Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Department of Defense employees and retirees can pick up bread on Friday only.
The only foods service members must qualify for are the locker's commodities which include eggs, milk and other items. Eligibility is based on the number of family members in the house and a service member's base pay, explained Riddick.
"A gunnery sergeant with only one child wouldn't qualify to receive the commodities. However, a gunnery sergeant with four kids would qualify to receive commodities," explained Riddick.
Sergeant Stuart Sylvester, a Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 11, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing ordnance technician, said he used the food locker and saved $24 dollars in groceries.
"Even if someone uses every coupon in the store, it still doesn't compare to the amount of money saved here," said Sylvester. "I wish I knew about this place sooner so I could have saved more money."
The food locker receives food donations from many people to include former military members and grocery stores, explained Brandenburgh.
Brandenburgh added the food locker also received donations from service members who had to use the food locker at one time to get started.
In addition to the food packages, the food locker also offers start-up packages for newly-wed corporals and below, according to Riddick. The package includes a set of pots and pans, glasses, bowls, plates and utensils.
"We at the food locker are proud to be here to serve the Marines and their families for everything they do for the country," said Brandenburgh. "That's what we're here for."
| Date Taken: | 12.06.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 12.06.2007 17:33 |
| Story ID: | 14498 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 851 |
| Downloads: | 593 |
This work, Station food locker helps Miramar Marines, sailors, by Sgt Fredrick J. Coleman, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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