Lockheed, F-22 CTF workers donate food to Edwards Main Chapel

Published May 10, 2010
By Kenji Thuloweit
95 Air Base Wing Public Affairs

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Employees from Lockheed Martin and the F-22 Combined Test Force donated a truckload of canned goods to the Edwards Community Chapel food pantry program, May 7.

The Lockheed Martin employees have been taking part in an employee engagement campaign for the past month, which entailed employees of the Weapon System Integration Department and F-22 CTF to donate canned foods to be delivered to the Edwards Main Chapel.

Air Force and government employees also contributed.

Lori Wilkens, Lockheed Martin, senior administrative assistant, oversaw the donation effort.

"It's the first time we have done this here at Edwards," said Ms. Wilkens "We thought it would be great to give back to our community."

After a month, Ms. Wilkens and her co-workers collected 1,634 pounds of canned goods to hand over to the chapel's food pantry, which helps active duty Airmen and families in need.

For the past year, Lockheed has been conducting employee engagement functions involving its Fort Worth, Texas, and Marietta, Ga., plants along with Edwards. The three places have held friendly competitions to see how much canned food they can collect to donate to their local communities.

Edwards Main Community Chapel had to open up a separate classroom to accommodate all the food.

Food can be donated to the main chapel's food pantry any time Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m to 4:30 p.m. Those who donate can do so without leaving their name if they choose.

The pantry is mainly intended to help out Airmen and their families, but on a case-by-case basis, it can also be used by retirees who may need help.