The USDA launched yesterday this year’s annual Feds Feed Families program, a voluntary food drive encouraging employees from all federal agencies to contribute to food banks and pantries of their choice. This year’s theme is Fighting Hunger—Giving Hope.
The event launch was held at Washington D.C.’s Capital Area Food Bank, which distributes over 45 million meals each year, averaging 88,000 meals a day. The campaign focuses on summer giving between June 27 and September 30, while also encouraging federal employees to give year-round.
Rebecca Williams, a food bank client, said during the event "everyone deserves access to food regardless of economic status, racial background, or current situation.”
Deputy assistant secretary Kim Peyser said that over 38 million Americans, including 12 million children, experience food insecurity. Capital Area Food Bank president and CEO Radha Muthiah also communicated the direct impact of COVID-19 on food assistance programs, which caused food donations to decrease.
Already in 2022, the Feds Feed Families Initiative has donated over 1.5 million pounds of food.
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