Questions and Answers
How can I help?
There are many ways you can help! Bring in your donations, talk about Feds Feed Families with your community and co-workers, attend events to show your support, and volunteer to help on collection days. Contact your agency coordinator for more information. For suggestions on desired donations, download the Most Wanted List 
[319 KB] and start shopping.
What else can I do to help people in need?
While this is a great campaign, think about helping those in need throughout the year. Find service opportunities across the country through United We Serve, www.serve.gov.
Will the Capital Area Food Bank (CAFB) accept pet food?
Yes, the CAFB accepts pet food. The CAFB forwards all pet food donations to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).
Will the Capital Area Food Bank (CAFB) accept school supplies?
Yes, the CAFB accepts school supplies. The CAFB uses school supplies in conjunction with its Kids Café program. Kids Café provides free meals to low-income children in safe places where they can get involved in educational, recreational, and social activities.
What does the Capital Area Food Bank (CAFB) need?
For suggestions on desired donations, download the Most Wanted List [319 KB] and start shopping.
Can I drop off food on dates other than the dues dated listed on this website?
Yes, you can drop off donations throughout June, July, and August. Contact your agency coordinator for the final collection date.
Can the general public participate in this food drive?
Yes. If you are not affiliated with a federal agency, contact Feds Feed Families or your closest federal agency.
Can peanut butter and peanut products be donated?
Yes, peanut butter and peanut products can be donated.
Can I donate cash?
Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) regulations provide that the CFC is the only monetary solicitation in the Federal workplace on behalf of charities. We hope you will, nevertheless, consider being part of the effort by bringing in non-perishable food.
Are you accepting corporate partners/sponsors?
This is a federal food drive organized by the Chief Human Capital Officers (CHCO) Council in partnership with the US Office of Personnel Management (OPM), U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), and US Department of Agriculture (USDA). We do not accept corporate partners/sponsors.
Why is the federal government doing this? Isn't this something that should be a private matter?
Federal employees are generous members of everyone's community. This is a voluntary effort to for Federal employees to give back to their community by helping those in need during these tough economic times.
Why is this campaign limited to 3 months?
During the summer months, food banks traditionally encounter lulls in the level of giving due to holidays and other demands on donors' time. This year, the surge in demand coupled with a drop in donations has literally emptied food pantries' shelves heading into the summer months. To help the food pantries stock up to meet critical needs for their services, the Office of Personnel Management and the Chief Human Capital Officers Council will collect non-perishable donations during June, July, and August
Is there a Twitter Feed or Facebook Page for the Feds Feed Families campaign?
Yes we are using both Facebook and Twitter for this year's campaign. Please "Like" us on Facebook at Feds Feed Families and follow us on Twitter at FedFoodDrive. We tweet campaign activities at least one a day and would love to have our followers tweet information about their activities.
Will OPM be engaging the FEBs in this effort this year?
The following Federal Executive Boards (FEBs) are sponsoring summer food drives: Atlanta, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Detroit, Honolulu, Newark, New Mexico, St. Louis, San Francisco, Seattle, South Florida. If your FEB is not participating and would like to participate please contact us at
fedsfeedfamilies@opm.gov.
How do field offices keep track of their weights?
Your organization should be working with a food bank that has the capability to weight collections. Agency chairs or champions should inform the feds feed families team of their agency totals as soon as they receive the information from their field offices.
My agency volunteered to deliver the donations ourselves. We do not need a truck pick up? What do I do and where do I take the donations?
If your agency is in the DC metropolitan area and would like to deliver its own donations, your chair/champion should coordinate with the Feds Feed Families team and the Capital Area Food Bank to determine the delivery time and location.
What information does my agency need to provide Feds Feed Families with regarding the collection day pick-ups?
If your agency is in the DC metropolitan area your agency Chairs and Champions should follow the collection day guidelines that were provided to them and can be found by logging in to the For Coordinators page.
My agency/field office is not in the DC metropolitan area, can we still participate?
Yes! Please contact your agency's chair/champion (find their contact information on the Agency Contacts page) to get information on how to get involved. If your agency is not yet involved contact us at
fedsfeedfamilies@opm.gov.
Where do the donations outside of the DC metropolitan area get donated to?
Field organizations are asked to choose a food bank in their area to contact and coordinate with to donate their collections. A list of recommended food banks can be found by logging in to the For Coordinators page
How do I access the For Coordinators page?
The For Coordinators page is for agency Chairs, Champions, and their designated team members. Contact your agency chair/champion if you need access. If you are a chair/champion and do not have log in information email
fedsfeedfamilies@opm.gov.
What is the Hall of Fame?
Feds Feed Families wants to recognize employees who embrace the spirit of the Feds Feed Families campaign by making a single contribution totaling 250 pounds or more. Employees who make such a contribution will be inducted into the Hall of Fame and they will be recognized for their contribution. All US government employees are eligible regardless of their geographical location. Nominations into the Hall of Fame must be made by the agency's chair or champion. Submissions from anyone who is not an agency chair or champion will not be counted.
What are Chairs and Champions?
Chief Human Capital Officers' Council (CHCO Council) nominated a FFF chair and champion for their agency. The FFF chair and champion work with OPM and the CHCO Council to meet the federal goal on Feds Feed Families.
The role of the chair of each federal agency is to:
Lend their leadership and support by providing oversight of the food drive campaign throughout your individual agency. While the role of the champion is to coordinate the agency operations, ensuring that all food drive activities and reporting is maintained up to date; keeping all communications open with key players in the process of collecting the donations, and storing and transporting your agency's contributions.
Agency Champions are responsible for:
- Participating in FFF agency coordinator conference calls.
- Posting FFF marketing materials in their agency.
- Hosting creative FFF promotional events to raise awareness and increase donations.
- Submitting stories and pictures to the FFF website.
- Providing agency data to the OPM FFF Coordinator (i.e. agency formula, collection day logistical details, contact information, etc).
- Ensuring there is a point of contact for each location/component that wants to participate from their agency.
- Leadership Involvement – Reach out to your CHCO and plan an event, or ask your director to email all employees to encourage them to participate in FFF, partner with other agencies to spark friendly competition.