Feds Feed Families program underway at Barksdale Published Aug. 4, 2011 By Senior Airman Chad Warren 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- The national Feds Feed Families program is collecting donations of non-perishable food items at different locations here on Barksdale through August 31. The program encourages federal employees nationwide to participate in the food drive by collecting non-perishable food and household items to offset national food bank shortages. The Defense Commissary Agency is sponsoring the event, which kicked off at the beginning of June. According to the commissary staff, a weaker economy and tighter budgets make programs such as this one more important than ever. "In this economy, so many people can't afford to feed their families or even themselves," said Commissary Director Christine Spain. "No one should go to bed hungry at night." According to Spain, the summer months cause increased economic strain on families because many children are left without the school nutritional programs they rely on during the school year. This year, DeCA joined with the U.S. Office of Personnel Management and the Chief Human Capital Officers Council to meet the program's increased goal of collecting 2 million pounds of non-perishable food and household items. The Barksdale chapel staff is assisting in the collection efforts, making the program more readily accessible to the base community. "Our chapel staff likes helping the community," said Chaplain (Capt.) Molly Lawlor. "It is important for us to serve the whole person, not just their spiritual needs." For those who wish to donate, collection points for the program are set up at each commissary exit, as well as Chapel one and Chapel two.