WASHINGTON — Soldiers and Airmen from of the District of Columbia National Guard partnered with the Capital Area Food Bank, September 10, 2025, to provide food for families across the District, Maryland, and Virginia. In just three hours, the team packed more than 6,030 pounds of food into 347 boxes during a single volunteer event.
“The food bank told us that this was one of the most meals they had ever put out in a single day,” said U.S. Army Sgt. Maj. Maria Koroma, with the D.C. National Guard’s Military Agency Augmentation Command (MAC).
The volunteer activity was initiated by MAC Deputy Commander Col. Laura
Keenan, a regular food bank volunteer. Soldiers and Airmen worked side by side to assemble and prepare boxes filled with shelf-stable items such as canned goods, oatmeal, and stuffing. The Capital Area Food Bank also partners with local farmers to provide fresh fruits and vegetables for distribution.
Soldiers and Airmen expressed that the experience was rewarding and meaningful.
“They immensely enjoyed it, and they felt like their time was well spent. And they all said they would, you know, do it again,” Koroma said.
The mission supports the D.C. National Guard’s “Keep D.C. Beautiful” initiative, which aims to strengthen partnerships between Guard members, local authorities, and the community.
“It’s important that the residents of D.C. get to know us and see that we are here to help in any way possible,” Koroma said. “What we did yesterday directly helps the residents of D.C., and actually beyond D.C.”
Groups were assigned specific tasks, including breaking down cartons, arranging food in boxes, and building the boxes for shipment.
“You knew that a box you were putting together was going to help a family, it’s always going to help someone who’s struggling, and to me, that’s what it’s about,” Koroma added.
Koroma went on to say that the Guard intends to maintain its partnership with the Capital Area Food Bank.
“We were just happy to do our part, and I’m pretty sure the D.C. Guard will continue helping the food bank, not just while we are on mission, but in the future as well."
| Date Taken: | 09.10.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 09.18.2025 10:44 |
| Story ID: | 548431 |
| Location: | WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, US |
| Web Views: | 49 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, D.C. National Guard Supports Capital Area Food Bank, by SPC Sherald McAulay, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
