This summer I had the honor of organizing the Feds, Farmers and Friends Feed Families Food Drive for the Southwest Region Food and Nutrition Service. As the human resources liaison for the region, I don’t get the opportunity to work directly with partners or clients so this food drive gave me a very unique perspective on hunger. I collected food items, sent out reminders to staff and ensured delivery of the food to the North Texas Food Bank.
The Feds, Farmers, and Friends Feed Families program was USDA's contribution to the federal government-wide effort Feds Feed Families, led by the Office of Personnel Management. From June through September 2010, USDA employees, farmers, and friends joined together to combat hunger and help children and families in need. This year's goal was to collect 1.2 million pounds of food from federal offices nationwide.
I am proud to report that the Southwest Regional Office (SWR) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) staff donated 518 pounds of non-perishable food during the months of July and August. We kept track of the donations by program area throughout the drive. I am happy to report that the SWR Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children staff surpassed the donations made by all other program areas. We have wrapped up our food drive for the summer and it has been a positive experience for everyone involved, especially FNS staff who had the opportunity to show who much they care about the community we serve – either on the job or through our volunteer efforts.
More information about the Feds Feed Families campaign visit our website.