DFAC Leftovers to Homeless Veterans

2014-11-16T16:15:53-05:00

I was on head count a few days ago and I spoke to one of the cooks about what I saw from my last unit. I told him that, from my understanding, the DFAC made enough food for the average number of people that ate there and any leftovers were thrown away. He told me that it was true. Given that not everyone goes back to the line for seconds, is there any way that we can give the leftovers to homeless veterans or homeless individuals in general?

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Nov 16 at 2014 4:19 PM

2014-11-16T16:19:02-05:00

I wish it as that simple but with health code violations, lawsuit potential, crowds, etc we are talking about a real pandora's box. I like your thinking though!

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 16 at 2014 4:24 PM

2014-11-16T16:24:12-05:00

I like the post. Can't take the food anywhere because of rules. Fine. Pick up these guys from a spot in town and bus them in to the DFAC. Something can be done.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 16 at 2014 5:16 PM

2014-11-16T17:16:23-05:00

Nice thought! However, too many obstalcles, health guidlines, legal, logistical, and coordination wise.
This would require health department coordination and inspection of serving areas and of the food to ensure the food is maintained at a proper temperature. They are staffed to conduct this on a daily basis. Where would this food bank be located, who would staff it, who would provide the building location. If this was run by a volunteer effort, that would be a trememdeous effort to accomplish on it's own. Then there is the always ever present legal aspect. Legally the Services can not give that food away; If someone were to become sick and a shister lawyer brought a law suit; Who gets sued, The SecDef, SecArmy, Post Cdr, Bde Cdr, Bn Cde, DFAC Officer, DFAC NCOIC, then the poor cooks at the bottom of the pecking order?

I am not kicking your thought or comment and on the surface, a very good idea at heart. Unfortunately we are not longer a nation of heart or with heart! If we were, we would not be spending millions of tax dollars in countries who are not our allies and instead could us it to help solve some fo the othe problems in this country, such as the one you've brought up.

We taken to many steps forward as a nation and until we take a few back, it's going to get worse, not better.

I for one, do appreciate your thought and wish it were possible.

Response by Maj Walter Kilar made Nov 16 at 2014 5:31 PM

2014-11-16T17:31:38-05:00

Let me play devil's advocate here as a program/ contract manager. Imagine that the DFAC is contracted out, like most DFACs. Imagine that the taxpayers of America are funding a contract to feed 500 customers per day at Base X. Two companies bid on the contract. Let's call them Mockheed-Lartin and Borthrup-Noeing. Mockheed-Lartin bids $5M for 40 full time equivalent (FTE) employees with an incentive fee of $100k to do special events such as Thanksgiving meals (total $5.1M). Borthrup-Noeing bids $5M for 40 FTE with an incentive fee of $1M for Thanksgiving meals, birthday meals, midnight chow and a tactical kitchen (total $6.0M). The government would likely choose the cheaper option with Mockheed-Lartin, and you would not get the birthday meals, midnight chow, and tactical kitchen. Instead, you would get the lowest price technically acceptable (LPTA), or what is commonly and quasi-appropriately referred to as "lowest bidder".

To the point: Mockheed-Lartin finds that it underbid the contract and cuts people, restructures its subcontracts for supplies, and shaves as much in the portions as possible to barely feed 500 customers. There will be no extras to feed the hungry, homeless veterans. Even if they could get past the health codes and local statutes, it would be difficult for any provider to live within its margin to feed the 500 required customers and an unknown quantity of hungry veterans.

I hate government contracts.

Response by SSG Christopher Freeman made Nov 17 at 2014 12:58 PM

2014-11-17T12:58:19-05:00

I see many people citing heath codes and lawsuits as reasons why not. I am curious as to why no one has really pursued this one and made it a big deal. If we can get AR 670-1 changed in days and AR 600-20 changed in hours, we should be able to come up with something that is a win win for everyone.

Response by SGT Suraj Dave made Nov 26 at 2014 6:32 AM

2014-11-26T06:32:32-05:00

Haha.... If you are friend's with any cook's, they will even tell you THEY are not allowed to take food home, they have to throw it away. Its really sad watching them throw away pan's full of un-eaten food.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 26 at 2014 6:56 AM

2014-11-26T06:56:58-05:00

HELL NO ! Those veterans have served and sacrificed for the security of this nation, they deserve better than leftovers. I would gladly give up my place in line and even pay for them to eat along with everyone else.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Nov 26 at 2014 7:06 AM

2014-11-26T07:06:38-05:00

I've been through this myself, you want to donate prepared foods to a shelter or soup kitchen and you are politely turned away. Its a shame, but I understand the reasoning. In general any prepared food has to be made on site so they see and know who prepared it and what went into it for health reasons.

Can't count the times we've had untouched containers of food made for Scouting pot luck dinners and such and we make people take it home.

Response by SPC(P) Jay Heenan made Nov 26 at 2014 10:45 AM

2014-11-26T10:45:48-05:00

The problem I think SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member is getting at is that we accept that we can't do it because of the many reasons listed. As a Food Inspector in the Army, I can tell you that the requirements to even get 'approved' items donated is ridiculous. Anyway, what we need is the leadership (at the senior level) to work with the community leaders to streamline this process and make it happen. So what we wind up doing is just accepting that we can't and calling it a day.

I do like the idea of busing the hungry and homeless (esp. vets) onto the base and feeding them.

Response by SA Harold Hansmann made Nov 26 at 2014 11:06 AM

2014-11-26T11:06:44-05:00

What, and poison their systems with more saltpeter? Lol just kidding. That is a great idea. There is no reason that they can't go through the galley line, ask for military personnel to volunteer to stand guard at all the exits and bus them from the front gate to the galley.

Response by CW2 Stephen Pate made Nov 26 at 2014 12:37 PM

2014-11-26T12:37:53-05:00

SPC Wilbanks, I wish there were more people out there like yourself with such big hearts! I get why we can't do what you were saying, but there are other ways to help. You can go to any local food Bank and volunteer. My family and I did that a bunch in Colorado, where we took the food (from school food drives) and stuffed backpacks full for kids to take home on the weekends. What most people don't realize is that a lot of kids survive off of. School lunches and don't get to eat on the weekend. I am also looking into raising money for the coats for kids drive. There is a need for 5,000 coats, and with the money raised we can buy brand new, american made coats for the kids in my region. I want to get my platoon involved but I gotta get it cleared through the 1SG and CO.

What I'm getting at is there are numerous opportunities where you can help. Use the leadership skills you have learned from your time in the military and motivate your fellow Soldiers to take on the ever growing, and often overlooked problem of the American poor, cold and hungry.