SEATTLE – The Washington National Guard has over 250 Army and Air National Guard members assisting the Food Lifeline COVID Response Center in Seattle by processing, packing and distributing food and goods to more than 300 food banks across 17 counties in Washington state.
Three of the Airmen assisting at Food Lifeline are assigned to the Washington Air National Guard’s Western Air Defense Sector. They are boxing and distributing approximately 160,000 pounds of food daily.
These Airmen usually support the 225th Air Defense Squadron’s mission of guarding America’s skies around the clock as part of the NORAD’s Operation Noble Eagle.
All three Airmen served many years in the active-duty Air Force before joining the Washington Air National Guard, where they plan to become tracking technicians. Continuing their military service in the WA ANG allows them to carry out both a federal and state mission, serving their local community as well as their country.
Staff Sgt. Constantine Bolo, a Spanaway resident, wants to do his part supporting the state food bank mission by directly helping the people in his community. Bolo spent 10 years as an active duty Air Force member and now works in the 225th ADS scheduling office.
Staff Sgt. Matthew Bradley of Port Orchard works with Bolo in the scheduling office after serving six years on active duty in the Air Force. He couldn’t wait to volunteer to support the governor’s request for Guard members to support critical food banks.
Staff Sgt. Jeremiah Jensen, an Olympia resident with the 225th ADS Standardization/Evaluation, spent 10 years in the active-duty Air Force. He said he appreciates the ability to perform a state mission that directly assists the people in his community.
More than 600 members of the Washington National Guard are assisting at more than 40 food banks helping more than 1.7 million Washingtonians. They have sorted more than 7 million pounds of food and packed over 867,000 meals.