Every year, OBI partners with Virginian non-profits to bring Christmas cheer to needy groups such as battered women, low-income families and the elderly.

Every year, the Hunger Strike Force's 18 tractors and 65 trailers deliver more than 100 million pounds of product.

"The hum of the road sings to me," Kennedy said. "It doesn't get much better than this."

CHESAPEAKE, Va. - The constant roar of the road turned into a sweet song for Frank Kennedy, driving him into a career spanning more than three decades.

"This is not just a job and we aren't just truck drivers," Kennedy said. "We are ministers on wheels."

Kennedy has been a truck driver with the Hunger Strike Force fleet at Operation Blessing, based out of Chesapeake, Va., for almost four years. The 61-year-old typically leaves his house in Newark, Del., on Sunday and travels along the Eastern Seaboard, picking up donations and delivering foods and other goods to area distributors. He's usually back home by Friday.

"My love of driving combined with fulfilling a mission is what makes this job so great," Kennedy said. "I am in the business of helping people one truckload at a time."

The Hunger Strike Force fleet consists of 18 tractors and 65 trailers, some 48 feet long and others, 53 feet.

Each year more than 100 million pounds of product go through the doors of Operation Blessing's distribution centers in Chesapeake, Va., Ocala, Fl. Mira Loma, Calif., and Slidell, La. In total, the four warehouses have more than 200,000 square feet of space.

Kennedy's love for the road was born while serving time in the Army in Germany. After he learned to drive trucks, Kennedy went on to pastor a church and get a degree in theology. He and his wife, Gale, whom he married in a castle in Germany 38 years ago, have five children and six grandchildren.

Kennedy is one of 18 people who make up the crew of Hunger Strike Force drivers. He outfits his rig with reminders of home: from Bibles, books and CDs, to striped sheets on the double bunks in the back and peanut butter cookies on the dashboard.

On a typical day's drive, Kennedy speaks to his family on his cell phone, calls in to check safety updates and plans his routes after meticulously tracking miles in his log book and filing away receipts.

On a recent trip to New York, Kennedy hauled more than 30,000 pounds of product containing cereal, applesauce, noodles and beans as well as light bulbs and even some wild asparagus butter cream icing.

He arrived at the Lighthouse Mission Outreach in Patchogue, N.Y., before 3 a.m., then sealed off his truck with curtains and blinds and slept till morning when the crew arrived to unload.

After he had tidied his closet, food storage area, opened the curtains on several of his overhead windows and tucked away his papers in the multiple storage bins, he was ready to help the crew.

Kennedy pulled on his OB jacket and headed to the rear of trailer, balancing a cup of coffee in one hand and a stabilizing pole for the doors in the other. He helped the forklift operator line up the pallets and headed back to his truck to log his hours, miles and finalize the paperwork for dropping off the items.

"The hum of the road sings to me," Kennedy said. "It doesn't get much better than this."

HOW YOU CAN HELP
Every day, the fleet of Hunger Strike Force trucks are on the road, delivering nutritious food and essential supplies to thousands facing hunger and poverty. With your help, we can continue to impact lives and give hope to those who need it most. Consider making an online donation today.

 

------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright © 1997- 2010 by Operation Blessing International of this page and all contents. No part of this site may be used without prior written consent from OBI. All Rights Reserved. Questions or comments? Email us at operation.blessing@ob.org.