{"id":359321,"date":"2025-01-21T23:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-01-22T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/?p=359321"},"modified":"2025-01-22T23:41:50","modified_gmt":"2025-01-22T23:41:50","slug":"serving-soldiers-fort-cavazos-leads-initiatives-pilot-program-for-food-security-for-warfighter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/?p=359321","title":{"rendered":"Serving Soldiers: Fort Cavazos leads initiatives, pilot program for food security for warfighter"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n A Soldier receives Defense Commissary Agency gift cards from Michael Miles, Food Security program specialist, at the Main Post Chapel at Fort Cavazos, Texas. In a pilot initiative that began Jan. 6, 2025, $2.5 million was donated to be distributed to families in need through DeCA gift cards.
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FORT CAVAZOS, Texas \u2014<\/strong> The Fort Cavazos Garrison Religious Support Office heads up several food security initiatives to assist Soldiers and their families at the Great Place.<\/p>\n

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\n Chaplain (Capt.) Eugene Savarimuthu, Chaplain resource manager, places baby food on a shelf in the food pantry Aug. 19, 2022, at the Main Post Chapel at Fort Cavazos, Texas.
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Fort Cavazos Food Pantry<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Fort Cavazos Food Pantry is a food resource for families at The Great Place. Housed in the Main Post Chapel, the food pantry has many shelf staples and families can use the pantry once a month.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe started in one room, and it\u2019s just grown immensely,\u201d said Teresa Parris, administrative support specialist, Fort Cavazos Garrison Chaplains Office. \u201cAt first, I would (estimate) we were feeding 15 to 20 families. Now we (serve) well over 50 families (per month on average).\u201d<\/p>\n

Parris highlighted the importance of year-round donations, as they are required to keep the pantry stocked.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlthough we are grateful for the holiday food drives, and we will never turn away a donation, families eat every single day of the year,\u201d she said, adding the need increases during the summer when children are at home instead of at school.<\/p>\n

Parris also encouraged those who donate to think of the children as they select items to give to the food pantry.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re feeding children,\u201d she emphasized. \u201cIt\u2019s easy to say, \u2018Well, they\u2019ll have to eat what you give them.\u2019 We all know kids don\u2019t just eat what you give them. If we give them ravioli, or we give them a Snack Pack of pudding, we know they\u2019re going to eat it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Since the food pantry cannot currently hold perishable items they connect families with food pantries in the area, ranging from Lampasas to Lorena, Texas, that do carry the perishable items they may need.<\/p>\n

Parris said in the past, units and different directorates have organized food drives of their own on the installation and turned it into a fun competition to see who can gather the most food items or volunteer the most.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are lots of people out there doing great things for the Soldiers,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Chaplain (Capt.) Eugene Savarimuthu, chaplain resource manager, Fort Cavazos RSO, said the food pantry also receives donations from different congregations on the installation, anonymous donors and the commissaries through the Feds Feeds Families program.<\/p>\n

Donors also give gift cards that allow volunteers to purchase food for the pantry.<\/p>\n

Parris praised the food pantry\u2019s volunteers, and Savarimuthu noted one volunteer once used the pantry themselves.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe turned around and has helped (the food pantry) for almost two years,\u201d he said. \u201c<\/p>\n

The food pantry\u2019s hours of operation are 1-4 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday; 10-11 a.m. and 1-4 p.m. Wednesday; and 9:30-11 a.m. and 1-2 p.m. Friday. It is closed on weekends, holidays and training holidays.<\/p>\n

Department of Defense ID cardholders, including retirees, DOD civilians and dependents and veterans, are eligible to use the food pantry. Those who use it must be prepared to show their ID.<\/p>\n

For more information, contact Teresa Parris at 254-288-6545 or Michael Miles, Food Security Program specialist, at 254-286-5884.<\/p>\n

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\n Pfc. Leonardo Fyffe, a nutrition care specialist, 190th Medical Detachment, 32nd Hospital Center, 1st Medical Brigade, smiles as he and other volunteers sort fresh produce items into bags Sept. 5, 2024, during the Fresh Foods for Families event at Phantom Warrior Stadium at Fort Cavazos, Texas.
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\n Pfc. Leonardo Fyffe, a nutrition care specialist, 190th Medical Detachment, 32nd Hospital Center, 1st Medical Brigade, loads food into a vehicle Sept. 5, 2024, during the Fresh Foods for Families event at Fort Cavazos, Texas.
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Fresh Foods for Families<\/strong><\/p>\n

Fresh Foods for Families is a monthly event where the RSO, in partnership with the Central Texas Food Bank, distributes thousands of pounds of food to Fort
Cavazos families.<\/p>\n

Savarimuthu said the soft launch of Fresh Foods for Families in June 2024 served 250 families with only 13 volunteers. Since then the initiative has grown to serve over 400 families with 24,000 pounds of food being distributed at the Sept. 5, 2024, grand opening.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not only just a distribution of food \u2014 it\u2019s a pride and joy and community service,\u201d he said. \u201cEven some of the brand new Soldiers (volunteers), privates, and there are others that I witnessed, they were in tears. They said, \u2018Sir, this is the first time, ever, I gave something to someone.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Cars line the Phantom Warrior Stadium parking lot and receive their food items in a drive-thru manner. The goal is for each family to receive around 40 pounds of food consisting of a variety of items including fresh produce, grains and protein.<\/p>\n

Savarimuthu touched on the long-standing partnership between Fort Cavazos and
the CTFB.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe partnership was not just created through Fresh Foods for Families,\u201d he said. \u201cThey have already built a partnership that goes back almost 10 years, providing over 600 turkeys and produce every Thanksgiving. (Fresh Foods for Families) is an extension of what they\u2019ve been doing to support our Soldiers and families.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fresh Foods for Families takes place 9-11 a.m. on the first Thursday of each month at Phantom Warrior Stadium. The next Fresh Foods for Families event is scheduled for Feb. 6. Those who attend must enter the parking lot from Tank Destroyer Boulevard and Comanche Avenue at the traffic light.<\/p>\n

Those who wish to volunteer during the event simply need to arrive at the stadium parking lot between 7:30 and 8 a.m.<\/p>\n

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\n Volunteers prepare and load food into vehicles during the Fresh Foods for Families event Sept. 5, 2024, at Phantom Warrior Stadium at Fort Cavazos, Texas.
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DeCA gift cards<\/strong><\/p>\n

In a pilot initiative that began Jan. 6, $2.5 million was donated to be distributed to families in need through Defense Commissary Agency gift cards. There is no other initiative like it in the Army currently.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Department of Defense developed a strategy to tackle service members\u2019 food insecurity,\u201d said Chaplain (Maj.) John Lee, operations chaplain, Fort Cavazos RSO. \u201cThey chose Fort Cavazos to run a pilot program to address Soldier\u2019s food insecurity. They gave (the funds) to our garrison to distribute DeCA, or commissary, cards to Soldiers who are struggling with their monthly food costs.\u201d<\/p>\n

With the unit leader\u2019s referral, Soldiers ranked private through staff sergeant can receive a DeCA card.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe only requirement for the first issuance of the card is just a referral,\u201d Lee said. \u201cWe also developed a very nice food cost calculation based on FDSCA (Federal Defense Support of Civil Authorities) guidance. Based on the age and number of family members, the program we developed (calculates) the DeCA card amount.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lee went on to explain if more support is needed after the issuance of the first DeCA card, the recipient must attend a financial readiness class hosted by Army Community Service. Once they complete the class, a finance counselor with ACS will provide budget guidance for the family.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs long as they prove they are following the guidance, they can get issued a second or third card,\u201d Lee said. \u201cThe amount (of funds) is recommended by the finance counselor starting with the second issuance. After the first issuance there is no requirement except for their leader\u2019s referral.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lee said in figuring out how to calculate\u00a0what funds families need for food they discovered some Soldiers were spending a remarkable amount of their salary on groceries.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome ranks spend more than 33% of their salary just to buy their monthly groceries,\u201d he said. \u201cWe were very surprised to see that, and I think the program will help our Soldiers that are struggling with their food costs every month a lot. And because of this program, we are encouraging Soldiers to learn how they can manage their finances responsibly in conjunction with ACS.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cards are issued 1-3 p.m. Monday through Wednesday at RSO. The financial readiness class takes place from 1:30-2:30 p.m. every Tuesday at the Main Post Chapel.<\/p>\n

Impact<\/strong><\/p>\n

The impact of these resources has been nothing but positive, and RSO vows to
continue serving those in need.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe think we are supporting others,\u201d Lee said. \u201cBy supporting others, we are also supporting (ourselves) spiritually. We feel grateful because of our service to others. This
is reciprocal.\u201d<\/p>\n

Savarimuthu agreed.<\/p>\n

\u201cI believe that Jesus Christ fed people with food and then God\u2019s Kingdom,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd the Religious Support Office\u2019s mission is to provide spiritual wellbeing, and help people (for the) greater glory of God. Whether you belong to a congregation, or you have faith in God or believe in a higher power or not, it feels good doing something for someone.\u201d<\/p>\n

Parris agreed, adding that the privacy of those who need assistance is of the
utmost importance.<\/p>\n

\u201cAny time they come here for food assistance it\u2019s all very confidential,\u201d she said. \u201cNobody gets this information from us. It\u2019s already hard enough to ask for help. I\u2019ve worn those shoes, and I know how it makes you feel.\u201d<\/p>\n

The RSO Facebook page, facebook.com\/FortCavazosRSO<\/em>, will post updates should any changes be made to any of the resources mentioned above.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A Soldier receives Defense Commissary Agency gift cards from Michael Miles, Food Security program specialist, at the Main Post Chapel at Fort Cavazos, Texas. In a pilot initiative that began Jan. 6, 2025, $2.5 million was donated to be distributed to families in need through DeCA gift cards. (Photo Credit: Photo by Teresa Parris, Fort […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":359323,"comment_status":"close","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-359321","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/359321","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=359321"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/359321\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":359329,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/359321\/revisions\/359329"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/359323"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=359321"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=359321"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=359321"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}