JOINT BASE ANDREWS Md. –
Poverty that plagues millions of Americans can leave people without food in their pantries, no money to eat out and even worse, no place to live. According to the 2011 American Community Survey, approximately 48.5 million people, or 15.9 percent of the U.S. population had, income below their respective poverty level.
To help combat the hardship of poverty, Joint Base Andrews service members teamed up, Nov. 20, with So Others May Eat, or SOME, an interfaith, community-based organization in DC that provides food, clothing and health care to the poor and homeless, .
On the third Tuesday of every month, the Chapel One at Andrews buses volunteers to the organization to prepare and serve a meal. Staff members of the 11th Wing Command Post, the chapel and Air Force Element Medical Department of Defense personnel here, showed up to help out this Thanksgiving week.
"It's really great we as a military have this avenue through the chapel to go downtown and help people in need," said Lt. Col. Jason Wollard, 11th Wing Command Post Chief. "I hope we can make a difference."
The organization has been making a difference for more than forty years.
"We feed about 900 to 1,000 people a day," said Antonio McCoy, SOME staff security. "We are providing food for homeless every day, all year long. We're here Christmas, Thanksgiving and New Year's Day."
McCoy, once a recipient of the services SOME provides, said he fought a 30 year battle with substance abuse. He said he is grateful for this program for playing a key role in helping him get his life on track.
"I decided I had enough," said McCoy. "I went through their transitional and educational programs, stayed clean and came back to work for SOME.
Not only does SOME contribute to breaking the cycles of abuse and poverty by providing mental health, dental care, treatment centers and housing; the organization gives people an opportunity to give back to the community, said Betty Washington, Andrews Chapel One SOME coordinator.
"The dutiful mindset of service members is a great asset to the organization," said Washington. "Let them know what needs to be done and they will get it done in an orderly fashion. They are trained to be disciplined and you can see the difference this makes; please continue to volunteer."
Members can volunteer in an upcoming "Shoeboxes for Christmas," SOME charity event. During the holiday week in December, SOME distributes shoebox gifts to the homeless and poor children, women and men. If you would like to participate, simply fill a shoebox with items such as, socks, toothbrushes, soap, lotion, hair brushes, combs, caps and gloves, shampoo and small toys. People should label the box "man," "woman," "boy" or "girl." Bring these non-wrapped gift boxes to Chapel One on or before Dec. 18 to to be taken to SOME.
For further information on how to contribute by collecting food and/or volunteering with this organization and others like it, contact the chapel at 301-981-2111.