WASHINGTON, June 2, 2014 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack officially kicked off the Sixth Annual Feds Feed Families food drive Monday, encouraging federal workers in the nation’s capital and across the country to donate food for shelters, food banks and pantries.
Vilsack said since the initiative began, federal employees have donated more than 24 million pounds of food. Food collected in Washington goes directly to food banks in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia through a partnership with the Capital Area Food Bank. CAFB is the metro areas largest public, non-profit food and nutrition education resource.
“Feds Feed Families offers another opportunity to give back to our communities and serve our neighbors in need,” Vilsack said.
The program began in 2009 and has been managed annually by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. Karen Comfort, of USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service, serves as the Feds Feeds Families national program manager.
“I am proud to serve alongside such generous individuals and I am confident that we will step up once again this year," Vilsack said.
Vilsack was joined for the announcement by U.S. Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton, D.-D.C., Nancy E. Roman, CEO of the Capital Area Food Bank, and officials from the Department of Defense and the Environmental Protection Agency.
Non-perishable food donations will be accepted until August 27 at designated collection boxes in federal workplaces.
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