The Military Family Advisory Network is going out of their way to help military families with problems with food insecurity.

Veterans Day is right around the corner, and the Military Family Advisory Network is helping Joint Base Lewis McChord (JBLM) military families in and out of the Highline community with a military family food drive.

The food drive is happening this November 5 at the Cheney Stadium in Tacoma. 

The food drive is a registered event for JBLM families (connecting all military branches like active duty, reserve, national guard, retirees, and veterans) and aims to spread awareness and support to families struggling with food insecurity.

They already have over 650 military families registered for this food drive event.

“[At least] 24% of active duty service members experience food insecurity in the United States,” according to research done by the Feeding America Organization. 

The food drive is organized by the Military Family Advisory Network, a non-profit organization that helps families navigate through military life as well as provide help and support.

The organization started in 2013 by a group of individuals who wanted the focus and understanding of the problems military families face each and every day to be known by others.

Military Family Advisory Network strives to donate and help the military throughout the country starting with states like Washington, Texas, North Carolina, and Virginia.

Also partnering together with the Military Family Advisory Network at this event is CDS Help, Tyson Foods, Food LifeLine, and Nourish Pierce County.

Eric Kahn, a Senior Programs Manager at the Military Family Advisory Network said in an interview that they have been researching the issue of food insecurity since 2017 and the great effect it has on all parts of the military and military families throughout the country.

Research indicated that JBLM had one of the highest issues of food insecurity, making the Military Family Advisory Network want to get involved to provide aid to those families.

In 2021, a national survey done by the Military Family Advisory Network indicated that “one in six military families were dealing with some level of food insecurity.”

Kahn says that the major advocates who really help spread the word of their food drives are “the attendees themselves” as they spread awareness through their neighborhood, families, and friends, helping to reach people in need of support.

They also get their message throughout the country through social media platforms like Facebook, creating group message boards alerting people of the support the Military Family Advisory Network has to offer.

The event invites these military families and volunteers to come join and/or give a helping hand and donate food to military families in need.

Those who are interested in volunteering in the future can visit the milfanet.org/jblmvolunteer to register to volunteer.