NAVFAC contributes to feed Guam families in need

ASAN, Guam—Employees of Naval Facilities Engineering Command Marianas donated 255 lbs of nonperishable food goods in the 2017 Feds Feed Families food drive campaign that lasted from June 1 to Aug. 31. 

Feds Feed Families is an annual campaign organized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and held during summer months to help keep food banks and pantries stocked at a time when they usually see fewer donations and greater need.

“During the summer months people aren’t always aware of the needs of those who don’t have much—the homeless and the poorest of the poor,” said NBG Command Chaplain Lt. Cmdr. Andrew Colvin, Feds Feed Families coordinator for NBG. “So during the summer months, the Feds Feed Families campaign helps those who have very little, who normally only see those donations during the holidays: Thanksgiving, Christmastime, and Easter.”

Drop boxes for the NAVFAC Marianas contributions were placed at six sites from Building 4175 in Santa Rita in the south to NAVFAC Marianas headquarters on Nimitz Hill to NAVFAC offices at Andersen Air Force Base in the north. The donated food was turned over to the Naval Base Guam command chaplain who saw that it was delivered to three local charitable food banks: Catholic Social Service, Salvation Army Guam Corps and Kamalen Karidat soup kitchen for the homeless. 

“It was a great team effort for a great cause,” said NAVFAC Marianas ensign Joshua Collins, one of the junior officers who helped organize the drive. “We got a chance to bring folks together and give them a chance to express their generosity for the people in need in our community.”

NAVFAC Marianas ensign Eric Fallon noted the importance of teamwork to the success of the campaign. “This was a coordinated team effort,” he said. “All volunteers were very helpful in soliciting donations in their respective buildings; this campaign would not have been so successful without their help.” 

All together the Navy in Guam collected approximately 8,960 lbs of food items from various drop-box locations throughout the base, and all were donated to the three local food banks, Colvin said. “As members of the U.S. Navy we are proud to support this effort to help those who are truly in need,” he said.

“It gives me personal satisfaction to participate this year and I know my work colleagues share the same feeling,” Collins said. “This was another great opportunity for the great folks at NAVFAC Marianas to continue our community outreach.”

NAVFAC Marianas has a workforce of approximately 500 civilian employees and 40 military personnel on Guam. (USN)