How AFA Stood Up a Food Pantry at Dobbins ARB During the Government Shutdown

The recent government shutdown was the longest in U.S. history, and severely impacted our military personnel and civil servants at military installations across the nation. In response to the crisis—and to help prevent similar consequences of any future shutdowns—East Georgia AFA stood up a new food pantry at Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta, Ga. The project was made possible through a $1,000 grant from AFA’s United Forces & Families (F2) program and the assistance of Dobbins’ Military and Family Readiness Program Director, Angela Pedersen.

Despite the difficulty in reaching furloughed individuals, East Georgia AFA’s chapter president, Laurie Orth, connected virtually with Anthony DeVoile, Integrated Prevention Chief, 94^th Airlift Wing, and Jen Borton, Prevention Analyst, who spearheaded the Dobbins Care Campus food pantry initiative with MUST Ministries.

The combined efforts of this team resulted in a swift setup of the food pantry, providing much-needed support to those affected by the shutdown. Through the generous donations of community partners and donors, Dobbins Care Campus was able to give aid to over 160 members, distributing 137 gift cards, and receiving $14,300 in donations. They expressed gratitude to the F2 administrators for their prompt processing of the grant request, which enabled the pantry to purchase e-gift cards to grocery stores to assist members with food and gasoline.

“While we could not assist our members with every need during the unprecedented government shutdown, we were thankful to be able to provide some assistance with food security and other basic necessities,” DeVoile said. “Our members and their families were extremely grateful for the partnership with East Georgia AFA.”

The East Georgia AFA chapter played a crucial role in this initiative, demonstrating the power of community collaboration. This exemplifies how impactful work can be accomplished virtually, emphasizing the importance of building relationships and maintaining open lines of communication through phone calls, emails, and texts. Even in challenging times, AFA makes a significant difference in the lives of our service members and their families.