Every food drive has a moment when someone steps forward and sets the tone for everyone else. For the March 14, 2026 Feeding Military Families Food Drive, that moment came early—and it came from a man whose life has long been defined by service.
Jack Rose, a retired law enforcement official and a member of San Dimas Masonic Lodge No. 428, has become the first person to meet the Secretary’s Challenge for this year’s drive.
In doing so, he has once again demonstrated what leadership in a community truly looks like.
A Tradition of Service
Many people in the San Dimas community already know Jack Rose as a man who quietly gives back. His record of service spans decades.
Jack is a Past Master of San Dimas Masonic Lodge No. 428, a role that reflects the trust and respect he has earned among his fellow Masons. Beyond the local lodge, he also served as a Past Grand Lecturer of the Grand Lodge of California, helping educate and guide Masonic members across the state.
But titles alone do not define a person. What defines Jack is a consistent willingness to step forward when something important needs to be done.
The Secretary’s Challenge is exactly the kind of moment that calls for that kind of leadership.
What Is the Secretary’s Challenge?
The Secretary’s Challenge invites members of the community to donate their weight in food to support military families.
It is symbolic, but it is also powerful.
Each person who accepts the challenge transforms a simple act of generosity into a public commitment to support the men and women who serve our country and the families who serve alongside them.
The need is real. Research has shown that food insecurity affects a significant number of military households, with studies estimating that about 25.8 percent of active-duty service members reported some level of food insecurity in recent surveys . Factors such as relocation costs, spouse unemployment, and unexpected expenses can place real strain on military families’ household budgets.
Community food drives help bridge that gap.
Leading by Example
Jack Rose did not wait for someone else to go first.
He stepped forward.
By meeting the Secretary’s Challenge, he has helped launch the momentum for the March 14 Feeding Military Families Food Drive—and he has issued a quiet but powerful invitation to the rest of the community:
Step up. Join the effort. Help carry the load.
Leadership is contagious. When one person acts, others follow.
The Power of Community
Over the years, the Feeding Military Families Food Drive has collected tens of thousands of pounds of food for military installations across Southern California. The food collected in San Dimas has helped support families connected to installations such as:
- Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms
- Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton
- Fort Irwin
- Los Angeles Air Force Base
- U.S. Coast Guard Base Los Angeles/Long Beach
Behind every box of food is a simple message to those families:
Your community sees you. Your community supports you. Your service matters.
Now It’s Your Turn
Jack Rose has set the bar.
Now the question becomes: who will rise to the challenge next?
The Secretary’s Challenge is open to everyone—community leaders, business owners, civic groups, elected officials, veterans, and everyday citizens who simply want to help.
All it takes is a willingness to stand up and say:
“I’m in.”
The Feeding Military Families Food Drive takes place March 14, 2026, and every pound of food collected makes a difference.
If Jack Rose’s example tells us anything, it is this:
One person stepping forward can inspire an entire community to act.
And that is exactly how great things begin.
