MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. -- A new food pantry is now in operation at the Base Chapel.
The pantry is a collaborative effort run by the 22nd Air Refueling Wing Chapel team, with support from the Commissary at McConnell Air Force Base, and other donations, to support Team McConnell Airmen and families.
The food pantry is located at the base chapel, room 104, allowing anyone with base access to easily acquire an array of non-perishable goods in a discreet manner with no questions asked. The undertaking of this program is part of McConnell’s broader commitment to taking care of Airmen and their families – one of the Air Mobility Command’s key lines of effort.
This isn’t just the work of a few people; it’s from the top down,” said Chaplain Darrell Fennell, a 22nd Air Refueling Wing chaplain and founding organizer of the pantry. “From wing leadership to first sergeants, supervisors to Wing Staff Agencies and other Airmen, the food pantry was created and funded by an entire community.” The project quickly came to life once a need was established. In partnership with Shirley Magwood, commissary store director at MAFB, the chapel team was able to open the food pantry to the community within a single day.
While the launch was fast, the team understands that long-term success requires continued support and involvement and takes a collaborative effort. “Volunteers are probably the biggest need,” Fennell said. “The pantry may be at the chapel but it’s not a chapel lead program. We don’t have the manpower to make the weekly pickups and drop offs or to make sure people coming have what they need or to field questions about it.”
For many active duty service members and their families, food insecurity is a pressing issue. According to a 2023 survey conducted by the RAND Corporations and reported by Military Times, nearly 26% of active duty service members are considered food insecure, and 15% rely on food stamps and food banks to make ends meet. The Military Family Advisory Network also found that 1 in 5 military-connected families and 1 in 4 active-duty households- reported some level of food insecurity.
Fennell hopes the McConnell food pantry will help to relieve some of the financial burdens Airmen face. Starting in October with the new fiscal year, the team plans to track how much food is being moved between donations and inventory in hopes that providing hard numbers will help cement the idea that greater efforts should be applied toward these issues.
As of right now, though, growing the food pantry, expanding awareness, and having more hands on deck is the priority.
This food pantry is one of a variety of organizations and initiatives that embody the concept of Airmen helping Airmen- a principle rooted in resilience and readiness. Team McConnell members and families interested in donating or volunteering are encouraged to reach out for more information:
COMM: 316-759-3561
Or e-mail:
POC: amelio.brown@us.af.mil
HC: basechapel@us.af.mil