The Food Drive and the Combined Federal Campaign

One of the questions Office of Personnel Management Director John Berry was asked at yesterday's work-life town hall was whether folks could contribute money instead of food through the food drive OPM is currently sponsoring in federal agencies. Berry said that agencies can only solicit financial contributions through the Combined Federal Campaign, but explained why he's hoping federal employees will lug food to work, even if it's inconvenient:

"The three months that have the lowest donations to our area food banks are June, July and August. And yet with the economic situation we're facing, our food banks are really under stress, there are people relying on them more or more, especially if they're children. During the summer months, children are not getting access to their school lunch or school breakfast programs."

Berry isn't exaggerating about food banks facing crunches: in DC, for example, Bread for the City has had to seriously go over budget to meet need.