Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1186288
WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM NOVEMBER 20-26, 2019 UCW 9 It's that time of year again. e leaves are changing, football season is wrapping up, and people are preparing their homes and stomachs for the festivities of the holiday season. Part of the tradition of American anksgiving is the spirit of service. One of the most effective ways for people to give back during the holiday sea- son is to donate to a local food bank. In the U.S. alone in 2015, nearly one in eight households suffered from food insecurity. In the military services, some young families depend on food stamps to get by. A new food pantry serving lower-ranking sol- diers and their families is up and running at Fort Bragg just in time for the holidays. e pantry, designed to provide families with free, nonper- ishable food items, is operated by the Armed Services YMCA, said Michelle Baumgarten, as- sociate executive director of the YMCA. Families needing additional assistance are re- ferred to their unit's chaplain or Army Commu- nity Service for financial planning and budgeting classes, Baumgarten added. "is came about as people expressed a need for food support." Fort Bragg's Religious Services Office provides financial support through chaplains assigned to specific units — typically by providing commis- sary gift cards to families in need. Baumgarten said families with unexpected, special needs are among those the YMCA's food pantry was established to serve. "at's what we're here for," she said. e partnership is also beneficial to the Religious Services Office, said Lt. Col. Jeff Masengale, Fort Bragg's deputy garrison chaplain. e pantry is open to any active duty soldier, military family member and veterans. It runs on an honor system, with no rules on what families can help themselves to. Information is private and is not available to the chain of command. Baumgarten said the only things that are tracked are how many pounds of food go out the door and how many times a person uses the food pantry. A young military spouse whose husband is a private first class is typical of those in need. She asked that her name not be used. e young parents have two children, ages two and 16-months-old. "Honestly … it saved me like almost half of the items that I needed to get from the commissary." Baumgarten credited the North Post Com- missary with helping to initially stock the food pantry. e commissary provides weekly donations and serves as a collection point for monetary donations. ose wanting to help can also host food drives or drop off donations or dry goods at the YMCA's food pantry. Donations should be nonperishable, unexpired and unopened. Personal hygiene items such as diapers, razors and shaving cream are accepted. Popular items include baby food, formula and canned tuna and chicken. e food pantry is open from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday in the Fort Bragg YMCA building 2-2411 off Rodney Trail. ose wanting to visit, provide a donation or volunteer can call 910-436-0500. Fort Bragg offers food pantry by JEFF THOMPSON NEWS A new food pantry serving lower-ranking soldiers and their families is up and running at Fort Bragg, just in time for the holidays. Saturday, February 1, 2020 | 7:00 PM Reserve Your Ticket Online for Highland Country Club or Private Host Home. $75 Per Person www.mkt.com /the-care-clinic T W E N T Y T H I R D A N N U A L t w e n t y fi r s t a n n u a l T W E N T Y T H I R D A N N U A L t w e n t y fi r s t a n n u a l *Tax Deductible Contribution Your contribution may be tax deductible in accordance with the tax law. Financial information about this organization and a copy of its license are available from the State Solicitation Licensing Section at 1-919-807-2214. The license is not an endorsement by the State. 7:00 p.m. at one of our host homes $75 per person* For more info call (910) 485-0555 T W E N T Y T H I R D A N N U A L t w e n t y fi r s t a n n u a l 2020 Sponsor List Apple Crate Natural Market Barbara and Billy Richardson Bass Air Conditioning, INC Brown Property Group Callahan and Rice Insurance Group Cape Fear Eye Associates, PA Cape Fear Valley Health System Dan & Maureen McNeill Daphne & Ray Manning Dr. & Mrs. Stephen Kouba Dr. and Mrs. Kenneth Melton Dr. and Mrs. Scott Stapleton Nancy and Murray Duggins Ensystex, Inc. Fayetteville Family Chiropractic Fayetteville Otolaryngology Fayetteville Pulmonology Grannis Appraisal and Realty, Inc Hinkamp Jewelers, Inc Horne Brothers Construction Homemakers Furniture and Interiors J.P Riddle Charitable Foundation Medical Arts Family Practice, PA Mr. & Mrs. James McLean Mr. & Mrs. Sammy Shorty Olive Glass and Marble Senior Resource Services Short Stop Stifel Thompson & Little The Kyle Foundation The UPS Stores of Westwood and Ft. Bragg Virginia and Ramon Yarborough