AFPC Airmen can help feds feed families Published July 13, 2011 Air Force Personnel, Services and Manpower Public Affairs RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Air Force Personnel Center Airmen can help the Alamo Federal Executive Board feed those in need during the 2011 Feds Feed Families food drive campaign, which runs through Aug. 31. "This is the first time the federal agencies have come together as one team to support the drive," said Ellen Nelson, AFEB executive director. "Federal employees will see marked bins in each of their buildings, where they can donate nonperishable food and daily-hygiene items. Our goal in San Antonio is to donate five pounds per federal employee," For AFPC, with nearly 2,500 people at Randolph Air Force Base, that goal would raise more than five tons of food and hygiene products. The national food drive, coordinated by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management and the Chief Human Capital Council, encourages federal employees to help supplement food banks across the country. The AFEB, which includes members from more than 50 federal agencies, is spear-heading the San Antonio drive. "We are proud to partner with the San Antonio federal agencies to help support the children and families who are hardest hit by our tough economy. Food banks across the nation are struggling to replace the items people depend on to survive, especially during summer months when donations are traditionally lower," said Nelson. San Antonio federal agencies participating include the Social Security Administration, Small Business Administration, U.S. Geological Survey, Department of Homeland Security, Transportation Safety Administration, FBI, National Weather Service and several military organizations from Lackland AFB, Randolph, Port San Antonio and Fort Sam Houston. The most-needed items include the following: - Canned vegetables: low sodium, no salt - Canned fruits: in light syrup or their own juices - Canned proteins: tuna, salmon, chicken, peanut butter and beans - Soups: beef stew, chili, chicken noodle, turkey or rice - Condiments: tomato-based sauces, light soy sauce, ketchup, mustard, salad dressing or oils - Snacks: individually packed snacks, crackers, trail mix, dried fruit, granola and cereal bars, pretzels and sandwich crackers - Multigrain cereal - One-hundred-percent juice: all sizes, including juice boxes - Grains: brown and white rice, oatmeal, bulgur, quinoa, couscous, pasta and macaroni and cheese - Paper products and household items: paper towels, napkins, cleaning supplies - Hygiene items: diapers, deodorants (men and women), feminine products, toilet paper, tissues, soap, toothpaste and shampoo Collection boxes are located in participating agency entrances, and more boxes will be distributed as they become available, Nelson said. "We hope more federal agencies will join us. San Antonio's largest employer is the federal government and we have the potential to make a huge difference in the fight against hunger and give back to our San Antonio community," she said. For more information on the Feds Feed Families program, visit www.sanantoniofeb.org or the AFEB Facebook page at www.facebook.com/afebsa. For information about personnel issues, visit the Air Force personnel services website at https://gum-crm.csd.disa.mil.