This July, the Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) celebrates 150 years of operation providing groceries to military communities. And while many military patrons and their families take advantage of reduced prices on items for summer barbeques and other outings, Mark Bissell, Fort Myer Commissary manager wants to remind shoppers that there’s a population of people who can’t even afford pantry basics.
“There are service members of the lower ranks who are on the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program,” said Mark Bissell, manager for the Fort Myer Commissary. “These are families in need who can’t afford even cost-effective items which jeopardizes their nutrition.”
And with other families in the Washington metropolitan area like them, the Fort Myer Commissary and other locations within DeCA have joined forces with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for the 2017 Feds Feed Families (FFF) campaign.
From now through August 31 commissary shelves near the check-out lines have been stocked with brown bags filled with non-perishable items, which are sold to patrons and donated to the Capital Area Food Bank.
“I make sure there’s enough products on the shelves for commissary patrons — and this time of year I make sure there’s enough products to make the sealed brown bags [which are located near checkout lanes] that are donated,” said Insuk Dimas, a computer assistance ordering clerk for the Fort Myer Commissary.
Sealed brown bags are $20. They are collected and sorted on pallets which are packed and given to the Capital Area Food Bank; the Fort Myer Commissary is averaging 2,400 to 2,600 pounds of non-perishables donated weekly, according to Bissell.
“Each brown bag contains non-perishable grains, proteins, sugars, and juices as well as non-edible hygiene and paper products,” Bissell added. “These are items that families particularly need this summer — and this campaign helps highlight the need.”
According to the Capital Area Food Bank, over 12.5 million pounds were provided to families in need during the Feds Feed Families campaign last summer alone. But Bissell said this year’s goal is far from over.
“We as federal employees who work for the government want to address the need and it’s our way of giving back,” Bissell said.
Pentagram Staff Writer Arthur Mondale can be reached at awright@dcmilitary.com.