Mids Collect More Than 65,000 Pounds of Food for Local Food Bank

Midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy’s (USNA) Midshipman Action Group (MAG) and the USNA’s Chaplains Office collected more than 65,000 pounds of food Nov. 5 for the Anne Arundel County Food and Resource Bank during the 2015 Harvest for the Hungry Food and Funds Drive.

This is the seventh year in a row MAG has partnered with the Anne Arundel Food Bank and Anne Arundel Public Schools for the campaign. This year, MAG exceeded all previous year’s collections.

"The Midshipman Action Group, the Naval Academy Chaplains, as well as USNA faculty, staff and leadership, have responded to the immediate needs of the community through the Harvest for the Hungry Campaign for more than six years,” said Miriam Stanicic, Naval Academy director of community relations. “Every year, the midshipmen work very hard to match or exceed the donation amounts set in previous years. This annual high-yield donation from the academy reflects how committed the midshipmen are to bridging the food gap for our neighbors in need."

Midshipmen had been collecting food within their respected companies since October and making it into a friendly competition between companies.

“Every year I am amazed how many midshipmen take on the responsibility to help out and donate their time and energy,” said Midshipman 2nd Class Megan Rosenberger, Harvest for the Hungry project manager. “It is not only about the competition but also about helping others. Everyone in the brigade does their part to make this happen, and it would not be a success without all their help.”

Harvest for the Hungry is an annual food drive sponsored by the Anne Arundel County Food and Resource Bank to help low income families with meals and other basic needs year round.  Projects like Harvest for the Hungry helped feed more than 55,000 families with more than 1.5 million meals in the Anne Arundel County area last year.

“This drive is so important,” said Susan Thomas, the food bank’s chief operations officer. “Having the midshipmen here with the amount of effort, spirit and enthusiasm they have behind the drive and their willingness to help out anyway they can is amazing. It is great to be part of this with them.”

MAG members will continue to participate in numerous local volunteer and community service programs throughout the upcoming spring semester.  During the previous academic year, they logged 26,000 hours of community service locally and throughout the country.

“I am so proud of the brigade and how they connect with the community with this particular event at this time of the year,” said Marine Col. Stephen Liszewski, commandant of midshipmen.

Established in 1992 as a community relations program for and by the Brigade of Midshipmen, MAG offers more than 50 educational, environmental and social service volunteer projects in coordination with community partners from the Annapolis, Baltimore and Washington D.C. areas, as well as regional and national partners. MAG prepares midshipmen for future service by encouraging peer leadership, teamwork, character development, morale, selflessness and goodwill towards others.