Dear Colleagues,
As this year’s DHS Feds Feed Families Campaign Chair, I am pleased to announce that the 2020 Feds Feed Families Food Drive is underway now through July 31. Since 2009, thanks to the remarkable generosity of federal employees, Feds Feed Families has collected 80 million pounds of food for recipients throughout the United States, and the DHS family has been a vital source of many of those donations.
This year, your donations are more important than ever. For Americans dealing with food insecurity, particularly with schools and daycare centers closed due to COVID-19, this is a difficult time in what has already been a challenging year. The COVID-19 pandemic has also caused surging demand at our nation’s food banks, declines in food donations and disruptions to normal operating procedures. Historically, food pantries and food banks often experience a decline in donations during the summer months, which further impacts those already struggling. Through the Feds Feed Families* campaign, you have a unique opportunity to help those in need – even while social distancing.
This year’s campaign will be held using virtual and distancing measures to ensure our generosity is not limited by COVID-19. As a Department, we’ve done exceptionally well working virtually – where possible, continuing to perform our mission successfully. I believe we can extend this virtual success to help our fellow citizens during this campaign. To get involved and help families in need you can:
- Donate Online: Purchase food online from the grocery store and have it delivered directly to a food bank or pantry.* You can assist people in your neighborhood or across the country.
- Drop-off Donations: Find a food pantry* or food bank near you and drop off your donation. Call ahead to confirm any special measures they may be taking to ensure social distancing.
- Plant-A-Row: Plant an extra row of produce in your own garden or harvest unwanted produce from neighborhood gardens and orchards that you can donate to local food banks or pantries.
FFF campaign has developed a simple tool for you to then record your donations online in the Feds Feed Families Hub* and via an email to your Component Feds Feed Families Champion so that DHS receives credit for your generous donation.
You will hear more from me throughout the course of the campaign, but thank you as always for demonstrating that we, as federal employees and members of the DHS family, can go above and beyond to help others weather these uncertain times. Please contact worklife@hq.dhs.gov for more information.
Sincerely,
David P. Pekoske
Chair, DHS Feds Feed Families Campaign
Administrator, Transportation Security Administration