MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- Local volunteers are bolstering efforts to launch a large-scale food distribution pantry here in the coming weeks that organizers hope could feed thousands.
The Military Outreach Ministry on Camp Pendleton — whose laundry list of services includes emergency food and furniture for servicemembers E-5 and below — is looking to beef up its once-a-week food outreach, thanks to a steady stream of food pledged by the San Diego Food Bank.
Spearheading the effort is Arthur Peschel of the Solana Beach Presbyterian Church. The church is looking into becoming a primary sponsor for the expanded program, he said.
The new pantry would mimic an outreach at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. The outreach assists needy families with food and commodities through various federal and local programs.
“What we want to do aboard Camp Pendleton is replicate the Miramar Food Bank times five,” Peschel said. “If we can even serve half of the number of families we are aiming for, then that will make us happy.”
The weekly outreach here serves fewer families than the Miramar campaign — even though Miramar’s population is about one-third Camp Pendleton’s, he said.
Many logistical kinks — such as crowd control — need to be ironed out before the expanded food drive can begin, Peschel said. But a warehouse to support the increased capacity already has been secured, he said.
Miramar currently maintains a pantry through the Navy Wives Food Locker. It benefits upward of 500 families a month, said Rita F. Riddick, 63, who’s been volunteering at the Miramar pantry for more 12 years.
The grateful response of families in need keeps her on the distribution line, he said.
“Seeing families’ reactions when they see how much we can help them with (food and commodities) … it brings tears to their eyes,” Riddick said. “That is what keeps me involved all these years, because it’s addictive.”
One program patron, Lance Cpl. Chastity E. Ford, 25, an avionics technician with Marine Air Group 11, said the donations help her family make ends meet.
“This really helps a lot, but the surprising thing is that not a lot of married couples know they are here,” Ford said. “The older Marines need to inform the younger ones of programs like these.”
Marcia M. Tate, regional manager for Military Outreach Ministries here, has been coordinating with Peschel to ratchet up the program. The ministry has maintained Pendleton’s current program for more than a decade, she said.
Tate has wrangled more than 50 volunteers (both civilian and military) — from truck drivers to warehouse workers to food-line attendants — to staff the stepped-up outreach.
Jennifer G. Gilmore, agency relations manager with the San Diego Food Bank, said the charity has partnered with Camp Pendleton for a number of years but wanted to do more.
“We’re absolutely delighted to be able to increase the number of families being served — and proud to be distributing to servicemembers,” she said. The charity serves more than 150,000 families per month and distributes 13 million pounds of food a year, she said.
For now, food is handed out here the second Wednesday of each month at 4 p.m. at Building 1672.