Base chapel hosts Move the Food event

  • Published
  • By Rebecca Amber
  • Staff writer
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  From the Edwards Chapel's food pantry, 87 bags of groceries were donated to the base community during a Move the Food event Jan. 28. Each bag is packed with enough food to make at least one meal for a family of four. For instance, a bag with pasta might be packed with the sauce and side dishes. Each one usually contains 10 to 13 items.

"The whole program was born after Sequestration," explained Janet Till, Protestant Religious Education coordinator.

During a chance meeting with Brig. Gen. Michael Brewer, 412th Test Wing commander, Till and Catholic parish coordinator Sonia Burgess reminded the commander that Chapel 2 has a food pantry that caters to active duty. Brewer encouraged them to find a way to include DOD civilians and contractors in their ministry and Move the Food was created.

Recently, the event was put on hold, but is now going to start being held regularly again. The goal is to host one every other month.

The food is paid for by donations from private organizations on base including JT3, the Officer's Spouses Club and the Boy Scouts. Food has also been collected during chapel events such as the Catholic children's mass or the protestant Awana clubs.

"It's been a positive for those that have used it it's been a blessing for those of us that have been able to help," said Till. 

Move the Food is completely anonymous. The only information collected is the number of individuals in the household and whether the recipient is active duty, DOD civilian or contractor. A family of one to four will receive one bag of groceries; families of five to eight will receive two bags.

Sometimes, specialty items may be made available such as cookies, cereal, tea bags, toiletries and personal hygiene products.

"One of the issues the military has had for many years, even when my father was in was that the families don't always have enough income for food. We do have a lot of families on base that are on WIC or food stamps, or both programs in some cases," said Burgess.

Move the Food is not intended to replace those programs, but instead help families make it from one pay period to the next.

The next event will be scheduled for late April or early May. To take advantage of the program, look for advertisements in Chapel 2, the base gym, library or Commissary.

In the meantime, the chapel's food pantry is open to Airmen during normal duty hours.

"A lot of people know that the chapel is here but they don't know all the services we offer," said Till. "The chapel is more than just a place of worship; we can also provide help for you. You can come in for counseling; you can come in for help with food."