Michigan National Guard Member Lends Hand at Food Warehouse in Royal Oak

Photo By David Kujawa | Specialist Ralph Mitchell of the 1-182nd Field Artillery Regiment, Olympia Armory, National Guard, Detroit, Mich., now part of the Michigan National Guard's COVID-19 Joint Task Force, poses for a picture at the Forgotten Harvest Food Bank of Royal Oak, Mich., where he and nine other members of his regiment prepare pallets consisting of 60 meal boxes for local communities on Sept. 15, 2020. The Food Bank warehouse delivers 138,000 pounds of surplus food per day to local charities in metro Detroit. Since March, Michigan National Guard teams have supported food banks across Michigan, distributing more than 7 million pounds of food to local communities. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. David Kujawa)  

ROYAL OAK, MI, UNITED STATES

09.15.2020

Story by Master Sgt. David Kujawa 

Michigan National Guard

ROYAL OAK, MIch. -- The Michigan National Guard is helping to ensure that a charitable food distribution network is able to complete its mission, despite the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Michigan Citizen-Soldiers and Citizen-Airmen spent part of August working at the Forgotten Harvest food bank in Royal Oak, helping to sort, process and ship the 138,000 pounds of food that the charity
delivers to Detroit area charities six days per week.

The Michigan National Guard’s COVID -19 Joint Task Force consists of more than 100 Soldiers and Airmen, activated by the state to assist in efforts to respond, mitigate, and control the COVID-19 pandemic throughout Michigan. The task force has worked at eight different food warehouses across the state to ensure that charitable food operations continue without interruption.

“It feels good to be part of a team that is doing something to give people hope,” said Specialist Ralph Mitchell, one of nine Soldiers from the 1-
182nd Field Artillery Regiment at the Olympia Armory in Detroit who were activated to support the Covid-19 JTF.

Mitchell graduated from his advanced individual training (A.I.T.) course as a M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) mechanic in May 2020. The mobilization for the Covid-19 JTF is the first of his
military career.

Mitchell said he is excited about being able to serve his country and do more in his community.

“It feels good to be part of a team that is doing something to give people hope,” he said. “I enlisted to do more in my community, and serve my country!” Like most members of the National Guard, Mitchell is a member of the community – his civilian job is as an employee of Ford – who serves part-time in the Guard, ready to be called as needed. He was
activated for the Covid-19 JTF in August.

“Mitchell is a motivated troop. His work ethic is equally impressive on both the COVID-19 JTF and in the battalion,” said Sgt.1 st  Class Darwin Brooks, a battalion master gunner in the 1-182 nd  and Mitchell’s
supervisor. “He shows great leadership potential and is eager to put in a full day’s work because he knows it’s helping people.”

Tyrone McClendon, a supervisor at Forgotten Harvest said the detachment of Guard personnel who worked at the warehouse said made a big difference with their contributions. “They amazed me with their output,” he said. “Not only have they nearly doubled our numbers, but
they do a great job at cleaning up before leaving each day.”   

Mitchell said working in a food warehouse wasn’t what he expected to be doing when he enlisted in the Michigan National Guard, but is glad he’s had the opportunity to contribute.

“Coming into the warehouse each day in uniform and representing the Michigan National Guard is a rewarding experience. The employees at Forgotten Harvest show us tremendous gratitude and respect.  I am thankful to have the opportunity to deploy for such a worthy cause,” Mitchell said.

• Date Taken: 09.15.2020
• Date Posted: 09.22.2020 12:51
• Story ID: 378379
• Location: ROYAL OAK, MI, US