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Environmental Factor

Environmental Factor

Your Online Source for NIEHS News

July 2018

Summer food drive launched June 1

NIEHS launched the Feds Feed Families food drive June 1, and by June 27, had collected 1,350 pounds of food and other necessities.

By Kelly Lenox

NIEHS launched its annual Feds Feed Families food drive June 1, and volunteers offered the first of three curbside collections June 27. The NIEHS effort is part of the larger Feds Feed Families campaign across the federal government.

Monya Brace, from the NIEHS Office of Management, said that the food and other collected items will be donated to the Durham Rescue Mission and the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina. On June 27, she made the first delivery, which totaled 1,350 pounds.

Brace, shown with some of the donations at the Keystone Building, thanked the NIEHS workforce for a strong start to the food drive. Brace, shown with some of the donations at the Keystone Building, thanked the NIEHS workforce for a strong start to the food drive. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

Brace is co-chairing this year’s drive along with Pinkney Wilder, from the Signal Transduction Laboratory, and Edith Lee, from the Clinical Research Branch. Wilder represents Blacks in Government, and Lee represents American Federation of Government Employees Local 2923. The two organizations are helping coordinate the campaign and staff the food drive.

“Last year, we collected nearly 2,800 pounds of food, hygiene, and cleaning products for families in our community,” Brace said. Volunteers will be curbside two additional mornings this summer to gather donations as folks come to work. “We want to encourage you to bring more than you can carry,” she added.

  • July 25
  • August 29

Throughout the summer, collection boxes are located in the Rall, Keystone, and Clinical Research Unit buildings.

Lee and Wilder paused before loading the first month’s collections into the van after the curbside collection June 27 at the Rall Building. Lee and Wilder paused before loading the first month’s collections into the van after the curbside collection June 27 at the Rall Building. (Photo courtesy of Steve McCaw)

“This is a great way for NIEHS to show our concern for the well-being of our neighbors in the local area and broader North Carolina community,” said NIEHS and National Toxicology Program Director Linda Birnbaum, Ph.D.

According to the Food Bank, more than 630,000 people in this area struggle to provide food for their families, and many must choose between eating and other basic necessities such as medicine and housing. Summertime is especially difficult for children who do not receive free or reduced lunches in school.

“Our goal is five pounds per person,” Birnbaum said. “I am confident our generosity will enable us to make a meaningful difference for folks.”


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