Feds Feed Families Program a Success at Stennis Space Center

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. (NNS) -- In July and August, naval commands at Stennis Space Center (SSC) in southern Mississippi collaboratively collected 3,350 pounds of food donations to be equally distributed to the Hancock County Food Pantry in Bay St. Louis, Miss., and Christian Care Ministries in Picayune, Miss.

The third annual Feds Feed Families food drive is a nationwide event that offers federal agencies the unique opportunity to give back to their local communities each summer, the most difficult time of year for starving families. As members of Navy Region Southeast, the commands at SSC have made a significant contribution to the regional goal of 33,000 pounds.

In addition to collecting non-perishable items, military and civilian Navy personnel at SSC raised money for the drive by volunteering to sell baked goods, ice cream and pizza, hosting a silent auction and participating in a "Gas 'n Glass" fundraiser, at which they cleaned windows and pumped gas for those visiting the Navy Exchange. Proceeds from the fundraisers totaled $1,600, allowing them to purchase several hundred pounds of non-perishable goods in addition to those already collected, for a total of over one and a half tons of food.

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