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Airmen, families help at food bank

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Erica Holbert-Siebert
  • 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- --  Around 22 Team Scott members worked at the St. Louis Area Foodbank July 25 packing approximately 11,976 meals for local communities.

The goal of the St. Louis Area Foodbank is to provide nutritious meals to a 26 county area in Missouri and Illinois, so individuals don't have to go without the ability to feed themselves or their families.

Airman 1st Class Samuel Wood, 375th Logistics Readiness Squadron, volunteered with some of his co-workers at the food bank before his night shift at Scott AFB.

"We don't get a lot of opportunity to volunteer in general, because we all work the night shift, but this is a chance we have to volunteer and get out there to help during the day," said Wood.

As his second time volunteering at the food bank, he said it's a good way to spend a Saturday.

Wood said, "You actually help so many people by doing this, and it's a fun time."

According to the St. Louis Area Foodbank statistics, one in eight people in this region look to the food bank for help, or 392,000 people. Eighteen percent of the households that use the food bank have at least one member that has served in the United States military, and 77 percent of the households are living at or below poverty level. Thirty-one percent of the individuals benefited by the food bank are children.

The volunteers' objective was to pack black bean burgers to ready them for distribution, and they processed 14,670 pounds worth. They contributed to the 27,077,500 pounds of food packaged so far this year.

Ryan Farmer, St. Louis Area Foodbank Director of Communications, said, "That's up more than 1.7 million pounds from the same time period last year. We finished our fiscal year at 34,226,912 pounds distributed last year and anticipate that number being between 35 and 36 million pounds this year. Area families and seniors depend on the food that the volunteers sort, box and repackage in the volunteer center."

The food can be collected and then distributed through a variety of ways, such as from local food drives to schools with summer food programs, or donated from manufacturers and retailers making the effort to ensure less food waste.

Harry Steen, Repackaging Coordinator, said, "On the Illinois side, we're working with six school districts to provide a meal during the summer. Summer time typically has a dip in donations, but the need is always there, especially among the elderly and children."

Farmer said, "Volunteers are critical to our operation. We appreciate all the work they do to help further our mission of feeding the area's hungry. Without our volunteers, we simply would not be able to help as many people as we do every year."

Farmer said the St. Louis Area Foodbank began its service to the community in 1975. Originally known as the Food Crisis Network, the organization merged with Catholic Charities Food Program in 1985 and became the St. Louis Area Foodbank. They have been in their current facility since 2006.

"Spending a few hours at the food bank makes for a great field trip for kids or team-building experience for adults. The money saved allows us to secure more food for those in need," said Farmer.

Farmer said there are many ways to get involved in the fight against hunger. In addition to volunteering at the food bank:

· Help is needed at events such as the Stamp Out Hunger food drive in May.
· Hosting a food drive is another easy way to help provide more food to neighbors in need.
· Financial donations help secure large volumes of food through relationships the food bank has in the food industry with 155 retailers and companies.
· Learn more about how you can get involved at http://stlfoodbank.org/get-involved.

The food bank prides themselves on using 97 percent of all donations on food distribution, with 3 percent going to administration.

Tech. Sgt. Joseph Venable, Volunteer Coordinator for Scott members, said, "Spreading the word on volunteer opportunities, such as the St Louis Area Foodbank, gives people an opportunity to get out, get involved and give something back. The response from the members of Team Scott is overwhelming. Once the word gets out about volunteering for the St. Louis Area Foodbank, slots fill up fast. People are always looking to help out the community."

Venable said the next opportunity to help at the food bank is Aug. 8 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.