Page 28 - Desert Lightning News Sept. 2015

28 September 3, 2015 Desert Lightning News

www.aerotechnews.com/davis-monthanafb

Facebook.com/DesertLightningNews

Commissary food bank donations top 4 million pounds

FORT LEE, Va. – In a classic When the Defense Commissary courage food banks to seek perma- While that amount of merchan-
case of a crisis creating an opportu- Agency, like other government nent designation,” he added. “Many dise “waste” may sound like a lot,
nity, the government shutdown of agencies, was confronted with the did, and that’s how the whole thing in a system as large as DeCA’s
2013 served as a catalyst to revive 2013 shutdown, it faced another just kept on rolling.” chain of 241 stores, it represents
donations from military commis- problem: what to do with grocer- a very small amount. “This may
saries to local food banks, with the ies that remained wholesome but From that first year’s donation of sound like a lot, and the food banks
stores donating more than 4 mil- unsold due to the doors of stores a little more than 636,000 pounds are certainly grateful, but ed-
lion pounds of groceries to date, being shuttered. Thus, the effort to of goods to 72 food banks, the ible, unsellable product amounts
including an expected 2 million revitalize the donation of the un- program has grown to 127 stores to less than 1 percent of what we
pounds this year alone. sold goods to food banks was born. donating more than 1.8 million sell worldwide,” explained Eller.
pounds of otherwise unsellable “We’re diverting all this from the
Since 1985, military commissar- “We got approval from the De- merchandise to 107 food banks waste stream, and we’re not only
ies have been authorized to make partment of Defense on a tempo- across the nation so far this year, keeping it out of landfills, we’re
donations to food banks designat- rary basis to allow stores to use local with the total expected to top 2 feeding the hungry.”
ed as eligible to receive that food food banks to get rid of their organ- million pounds.
by the departments of Defense or ics that were unsellable but edible,” To be eligible for donations from
Health and Human Services, and said Randy Eller, deputy director of “’Edible but unsellable’ means stores, nonprofit food banks must
by Veterans Affairs for certain DeCA’s logistics directorate. the product may not be up to the formally request and be designated
veterans’ organizations. However, commissaries’ visual expectation as eligible to receive commissary
with a dwindling number of food Turning that one-time project for sale but is still good for con- food donations from the assistant
banks seeking that status over the into an ongoing program involved sumption,” said Eller. “Everything secretary of defense for readiness
years, the program fell into disuse. nearly six more months of work. that gets donated is certified as ed- and force management.
“We really pushed the button to en- ible by a food inspector.”
See FOOD BANK, Page 29

800-45-DUCKS 13 MILLION ACRES… Tucson’s Newest and Neatest
AND COUNTING
A CFC participant - THRIFT STORE
provided as a public service For more information,
go to www.ducks.org

Gentle Dental Care

t2VBMJUZ$BSFGPS:PVS
&OUJSF'BNJMZ

t.JMJUBSZ%FOUBM1MBO

t-PDBUFENJOVUFTGSPN
%."'# $SBZDSPGUUI

%*4$06/50/
5&&5)8)*5&/*/(
8*5).*-*5"3:*%

"NZ.JOJFS
%%4
1$ 250 N. Pantano Road

Amy Minier & Daughters FREE SECOND OPINION (Broadway & Pantano next to Levitz)
WITH MENTION OF THIS AD

&5)45(t

Coupon

50% OFF

ALL CLOTHING

Women’s, Men’s , Thousands of carefully
selected items.
Youth and Children ‘s
Coupon expires 9/30/2015

InJoy DL06-9