Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support employees donated a record-high amount of pasta, soup and other foods during the Feds Feed Families food drive to help fight hunger in Philadelphia.
Employees provided 4,279 pounds of food according to the Sept. 13 official weigh-in, exceeding the organization’s goal of 3,000 pounds, to Philabundance, a non-profit organization providing hunger relief to local counties in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
“Participating in the Feds Feed Families food drive supporting Philabundance is important to us as members of the Philadelphia community,” Army Brig. Gen. Gavin Lawrence, DLA Troop Support commander, said. “Most of our employees, myself included, are Philadelphia-area natives. We take a lot of pride in helping those in need from the same community that we work and live in.”
The Feds Feed Families food drive is a U.S. Department of Agriculture-led campaign that helps food banks and pantries stay stocked during summer months when they traditionally see a decrease in donations and an increase in need, according to the USDA.
In the Philadelphia region, federal agencies contribute their donations to Philabundance, which provides food to 90,000 individuals each week through its own food distributions and a network of approximately 350 social service agencies, according to its website.
This year’s food drive marked the second year in a row DLA Troop Support set a new all-time high donation size, breaking 2018’s previous record-high 3,931 pounds.
“We’re seeing a trend of our employees challenging themselves and exceeding our goal more and more each year,” Lawrence said. “Whether it’s providing assistance to Warfighters around the globe, or in this case, helping to fight hunger in our backyard, I’m proud to lead a workforce that continuously pushes each other to make a difference.”
The Philabundance team also appreciates the efforts and generosity of the DLA Troop Support workforce.
“Without consistent support from our community partners, like DLA Troop Support and the Feds Feed Families food drive, Philabundance would not have the same level of impact on those facing food insecurity in the Delaware Valley,” Olivia Edwards, the Philabundance community fundraising coordinator, said. “Food and fund contributions enable us to provide more food for those in need, and in 2018 helped us distribute over 26 million pounds of food. We are so grateful for the generous support of DLA Troop Support!”
The annual food drive has collected nearly 80 million pounds of food since the campaign began in 2009.
Visit the Feds Feed Families website for more information on the campaign and the USDA.