The Military Family Support Center (MFSC) was founded in 2005 to provide assistance for active duty, reserve, and National Guard families when their service member is mobilized, deployed.

In 2016, the group started a new feeding program to reduce food insecurity in the area. They are currently raising money through RedBasket.org to continue this program.

Col. Roger Talmadge, (USA Ret.), MFSC president, accepted Kroger gift cards for the MFSC from the Association of the United States Army at the June 14 celebration held at the Vinton War Memorial.

When military families are facing destitute situations or hunger, or when they live away from military facilities, they often lack necessary funding and support. The MFSC feeding program has a goal of reducing or eliminating hunger among needy military and veteran families in Roanoke Valley and the five surrounding counties.

“We estimate there are some 31,859 military families in need to serve,” said Talmadge. “We would like to partner with like-minded souls to feed all of our military and veteran families.”

Since the program started in 2016, 79,000 meals have been distributed to 2,603 families. The group hopes to continue their work and raise money to provide needed items. They’ve created an online fundraiser through RedBasket.org, a fee-free fundraising website sponsored by WoodmenLife and hope to raise $7,500.

This fundraiser will be available through July 19. To make a tax-deductible donation or sign up to volunteer, visit https://redbasket.org/1682/military-family-support-center.

RedBasket.org, founded in 2012, is a web-based, nonprofit 501(c)(3) public charity headquartered in Omaha, Neb., dedicated to helping individuals raise money for personal emergencies and community improvement projects in a fee-free environment.

Red Basket is fully supported by WoodmenLife, which covers Red Basket’s administrative costs in their entirety so 100 percent of donations are directly passed through to the cause. To learn more about Red Basket, visit RedBasket.org.