Feds Feed Families Newsletter | |
This newsletter provides updates on the Feds Feed Families 2023 Summer Campaign, how to get involved, and resources the campaign’s website, aka “the FFF Hub.” Feel free to share any and all of these items in your internal communications channels (such as internal staff newsletters) to help motivate federal giving at your agency. Have questions? Email us at fedsfeedfamilies@usda.gov. | |
A Welcome Message from the National FFF Special Events Coordinator
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Hello Federal Family. My name is Caleb Gildea, and I am the Special Events Coordinator for the Feds Feed Families National Campaign. This year, with your assistance, we have had the opportunity to host a variety of events that support people that are impacted by food insecurity. The hallmark FFF event across the country, Stuff the Truck, collected thousands and thousands of pounds of food for people in need and promoted our campaign to the general public and other federal employees and partners bringing more awareness to our mission.
We are excited to announce the second annual Feds Walk In Support of Health and Hunger (Relief) – FedsWISH which will hopefully achieve similar results. This event will consist of both an in-person event, in Washington DC on September 28th, as well as a virtual event that will take place from September 17th-30th. Please see below for more details about these events. As you continue to host events in your areas, think about the tremendous positive impact you and others involved have on your community.
You are helping to make a huge difference in the lives of your neighbors and in turn making the world a better place. Thank you for taking your time and effort to stand up and take action. Let’s keep this campaign going strong!
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Fox 5 Anchor/Reporter to Emcee FedsWISH | |
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WTTG FOX 5 DC anchor and reporter Shomari Stone has agreed to emcee the FedsWISH Walk event on September 28 in Washington, D.C. Stone is a 7-time Emmy and 2-time Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist, coming to FOX 5 from CNBC. He was a correspondent for "The News with Shepard Smith," based at the network’s Washington, D.C. bureau.
Stone spent over 10 years as a general assignment reporter at WRC, an NBC owned television station in Washington, D.C. Prior to WRC, he served as a reporter for KOMO in Seattle, CBS Miami, and WINK in Fort Myers, Florida.
Also, confirmed for the event, is U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small, Defense Commissary Agency’s U.S. Marine Sargent Major Michael R. Saucedo, and Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Assistant Secretary for Administration Elizabeth de León Bhargava.
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Register Now - FedsWISH Walk | |
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Registration is still open for the second annual FedsWISH Walk ((Feds Walk In Support of Health and Hunger (Relief)) on Thursday, Sept 28, 2023, in Washington, D.C. Participants will walk from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) along the National Mall to the Lincoln Memorial and return to USDA where the event will culminate in a post walk rally.
The first 200 online registrants will get an official #FedsWISH wristband at event check-in.
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What: FedsWISH Walk (ride, run, or roll)
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When: Thurs. September 28, 2023
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Where: USDA Whitten Building on Jefferson Ave., SW Washington, D.C.
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Timeline:
- 9:30 a.m. - Event check-in
- 10: 00 a.m. - Pre-walk rally
- 10:30 a.m. - Walk begins
- 12:00 p.m. – Post walk rally ends
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Cost: Free, but bring a canned good and wear orange, the color of hunger relief
For more information, download the event flyer or visit the FFF Hub. See you there!!
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Department of Defense Raises over 5 Million Pounds | |
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During the first week of September, the Department of Defense (DoD) Feds Feed Families (FFF) donations exceeded 5 million pounds. Congratulations to DoD participants on a job well done, beating the 2022 DoD FFF campaign of 4.7 million pounds. “It really demonstrates the departments commitment to helping people in need as well as the generosity of the Department of Defense Employees. The annual Feds Feed Families program is a great way for the Department of Defense employees to give back to the community,” said Doug Nomura DoD FFF Chair and Chief, Logistics and Sustainment Division Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA).
The demand for donations has increased this year as more families across the U.S. struggle with high food cost. DoD works closely with food banks throughout the United States and Puerto Rico to help feed those in need. View how DoD help those in need through Feds Feed Families.
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Closing in on 8 Million Pounds | We are well on our way to besting and may be surpassing out summer 2022 campaign totals. Over the last week, you awesome feds collected more than a half a million pounds of donated food to foodbanks and pantries. Keep up the good work and do not forget to record your donations timely on the FFF Hub's donation form. | FFF Success Story - Have a Heart, Fill the Cart! |  | |
In this post pandemic world, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) had to get crafty this year. Pre-pandemic, NCI concocted a friendly competition between the east and west towers of one of their largest buildings, affectionately named The Battle of the Towers. This year the team had to get more creative since most staff are not in the offices more than a few days a week.
On July 31, NCI kicked off the Have a Heart, Fill the Cart campaign. Two red grocery carts with a stack of paper grocery bags were set up in the main entrance. A list of non-perishable foods needed were attached to the bags. Staff were encouraged to pick up a bag and return it the next time they came to the office.
The goal was to collect for one month. As staff got engaged with the challenge, more and more food was collected, and the team decided to extend the campaign through the end of September.
As of early September, thanks to the generosity of NCI staff, over 600 pounds of food has been collected. They hope to collect even more through the end of the campaign. – Submitted by Patricia Voysest.
| FedsWISH - Go Virtual and Get Social | |
Can’t make it to the in-person FedsWISH event? No worries. Organize and participate in your own virtual walk, roll, or activity at work or in your community and anytime during September 17 – 30, 2023. See guidance on setting up your own virtual event. Please wear orange and share photos of your activity to fedsfeedfamilies@usda.gov for us to share in our upcoming newsletter.
Also, post your virtual walk photos on social media and use #FedsWISH and #FedsFeedFamilies. Got some other good news to share about a FFF event or donation milestone? Let us know so we can amplify your events and successes on the national FFF Twitter, FFF Facebook and FFF Instagram accounts. Also, share your accomplishments and events directly on the 2023 FFF LinkedIn page. Please use #fedsfeedfamilies when sharing your good news and accomplishments across these platforms:
| Spring into Action for Hunger Awareness Month | September is half-way over but it is not too late to spring into action for Hunger Action Month. More than 13 million households in the United States were uncertain or unable to acquire food at some time during 2021. Through the Feds Feed Families program, we are taking action against hunger by donating canned food, fresh fruits, and vegetables to food banks and pantries. For activity suggestions, read our latest blog post. | |
What else we can we say about FedsWISH? Sign up. Fight hunger. Wear orange. Donate a canned good. Have some fun.
Throughout the campaign, weekly themes and graphics are provided to motivate your federal workforce to give. See the FedsWISH weekly flyer and the other weekly flyers on the FFF Hub Tools page. Share weekly themes through your internal communications channels. As we post weekly themes on our national social media channels, we will encourage you to do so as well, but remember to use public-facing social media responsibly.
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