Soldiers from the North Carolina Army National Guard's 449th Theater Aviation Brigade worked alongside volunteers from Team Rubicon, a veteran disaster relief service organization, Action Pathways, a nonprofit organization; and the Second Harvest Food Bank Southeast to distribute food to about 250 families at the Midway Elementary School in Dunn, North Carolina.
Guardsmen assigned to the 2-130th Airfield Operations Battalion and the 1-130th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion worked together with local organizations to help feed citizens during COVID-19.
"It's a very humbling experience," Army Sgt. 1st Class Jason Norris, assigned to the 1-130th ARB, said. "You actually get to see, face to face, the families that you're helping."
The guardsmen helped distribute meals and fresh produce such as potatoes, apples, watermelons, oranges, lettuce and meat.
As food rations dwindle and unemployment rises, families have found themselves in difficult circumstances. Therefore, the Guard is working with state agencies and local food banks to help support COVID-19 relief efforts.
"It feels good," Army Spc. William Best, assigned to the 2-130th AOB, said. "You actually get to see that you're making a difference."
Team Rubicon worked alongside the guardsmen during the food distribution to help provide the community with nutritious meals and produce. Team Rubicon and the guardsmen communicated and worked in an organized fashion to distribute an accurate amount of food to each family in an efficient and timely manner.
"It's a wonderful working relationship," Norris said. "The camaraderie these groups have is absolutely astounding."
Team Rubicon's efforts have made a tremendous impact in helping with COVID-19 relief operations. Volunteers from across the state gathered to dedicate their time and help fellow Tar Heels in need.
"It's been a pretty amazing dynamic," Claudia Suarez, a volunteer for Team Rubicon, said. "As a volunteer I've worked with the National Guard in the Patriot Southeast exercise and now here at the food bank. We're two different organizations, but we have similar missions and similar goals as humans."
(Army Spc. Hannah Tarkelly is assigned to the 382nd Public Affairs Detachment.)