Base food drive helps fight homelessness

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Lou Burton
  • 482nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
HOMESTEAD AIR RESERVE BASE, Fla. --  During the annual Feds Feed Families food drive, Homestead Air Reserve Base peronnel raised more than 1,300 pounds of food and diapers, which the base donated to the Chapman Partnership, a local organization helping to combat homelessness in South Florida, Aug. 30.

"We donated canned food, dry goods, baby food and diapers," said Capt. Damien Miller, Homestead Air Reserve Base food drive organizer. "The support from the base was overwhelming. Our people really were glad to help out the community."

The Chapman Partnership has two locations in south Florida; one in downtown Miami and the other in Homestead. Both locations fill to capacity on a regular basis and the need for donations is great.

"Our facility provides three meals a day for 300 people" said Ms. Sharon Haxton, Volunteer and Community Liaison for Chapman Partnership. " That is 900 meals being served at our facility on a daily basis."

In addition, Chapman Partnership provides starter kits for individuals as they advance out of the program.

"The food care packages are just another way we help families transitioning from our shelter to more permanent housing," said Haxton. The need goes beyond just food.

"We have over 100 children in our facility," said Haxton. "With the school year beginning we had to fill the need for supplies, backpacks and essentials. While we were able to gather enough supplies to start our kids off right, we are always accepting these types of donations for year-round support."

"Chapman Partnership is dedicated to helping individuals and families grow strong," said Mr. H. Daniel Vincent, Executive Director of Chapman Partnership. "Our program goes above and beyond to find every possible solution to help people get back on their feet."

Keeping with the above and beyond mentality, Chapman Partnership provides a dog kennel for the those who need shelter but do not want to leave their four-legged family member behind.

"We are the only facility to offer this type of service," said Haxton. "That means even dog food is a necessity for our facility."

Chapman Partnership offers a variety of services to help people get back on their feet. From a benefits specialist, job placement, housing coordinators, to medical care and counseling services, the organization seeks to move people into more stable housing placement.

For those seeking help who are homeless, facing homelessness, or those that see someone and want to send out help anonymously, call the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust at 305-576-9900.

"To receive services from the Chapman Partnership or various other support programs, people must first get a referral through the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust," said Haxton. "The best part about the help line number is, if you see someone in need you can call it anonymously and a representative will go to that location to see what assistance they can offer."

This is the second year that Homestead ARB has particiapated in the food drive program.  So far over 2,300 pounds of goods have been donanted to Chaptman Partnership.