Photo By Sgt. Neysa Huertas Quinones | Cpl. Alberto Limon Jr., left, and Cpl. Kaitlin E. Werner stack donated food during the...... read more read more
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“If I could talk to a child whose stomach is growling because their family cannot afford much, I would tell them that it gets better,” said Cpl. Kaitlin Werner, the assistant family readiness officer for Marine Wing Communications Squadron 28. “I would let them know that there are Marines busting their behinds loading trucks with food to get you and your family fed. Trust me, we care about you— help is on the way.”
Werner is one of the many Marines who are working alongside Sailors and Department of Defense employees participating in the annual Feds Feed Families food drive, aboard MCAS Cherry Point, June 22. The FFF food drive is being overseen by employees of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and facilitated by installation chaplains.
Service members and DOD employees have the opportunity to donate to the drive from June 1 until Aug. 31 across military and government installations across the country.
Since the campaign began in 2009, federal workers have donated and collected over 57 million pounds of food and other non-perishable items to support families at risk of hunger across America.
“As a person who wears the fabric of our nation’s armed forces and member of the community,” said Lt. Cmdr. Paul Greer, chaplain for Marine Aircraft Control Group 28. “This is where I see our core values lived out, this is where it becomes very real.”
In the first two weeks, MCAS Cherry Point has accumulated approximately over 1,200 pounds of canned goods.
“Working together in a coordinated effort,” said Greer. “We have located food banks, local churches, senior centers and other programs that have the maximum impact which makes this year so unique and so special here at MCAS Cherry Point.”
It’s more than just dropping off food, it’s providing a meal for a family, said Greer.
“You can be great at your military occupational specialty, but that’s not what makes a complete Marine or Sailor,” said Greer. “It’s the one who goes above and beyond; gives back and cares for their community. The service members can look into the eyes of people who don’t have much and are looking for the hope that we can give them, and seeing that does something for our pride as a service member.”
Werner said, as a child her family was not always in the best of financial situations, forcing her and her loved ones to share a plate of spaghetti and butter.
“You can see that you are making an impact,” said Werner. “We get to shake the hands of people that work at the food pantries on a daily basis. The volunteers tell us a pantry filled with food might appear to be plenty, but when it comes down to it, a full pantry can feed only so many families for a very limited time.”
“As a spiritual person, this is where I see faith truly lived out and the human spirit in action,” said Greer. “We are helping families and others in need to make meals, take care of their families, their kids and the basic necessities we have as human beings.”
For more information on the campaign, visit the links below:
http://go.usa.gov/xqtyB
Designated drop off points around the air station for canned goods include the base chapel, exchange and commissary.
The commissary has a list posted of the most urgent food needs. You can purchase a prepackaged bag of canned goods; scan, buy and drop it off by the exit to be picked up and given it to those in need.
To volunteer as a command point of contact or for any additional questions about how you can help a family today, please call the base chaplain’s office at (252) 466- 4000.
| Date Taken: | 06.22.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 07.06.2016 16:18 |
| Story ID: | 202769 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, NC, US |
| Web Views: | 98 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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