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# DLA Land and Maritime supports local community

By Mary ShearerDeputy Director for Procurement Process Support, DLA Land and Maritime

                COLUMBUS, Ohio  –              
The Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime team has been continuing their efforts to support the community. A group stepped away from the workplace to volunteer with the Salvation Army of Central Ohio’s Christmas Cheer assistance program Dec. 20.

The event has become a tradition for DLA Land and Maritime, starting back in 2018 with the Class of 2020 Level III Mentoring Proteges. In between some intensive program required activities, the group was looking for ways to build relationships, learn from each other and have a positive impact. Community outreach was the answer and Christmas Cheer was just one of those events – one that has attracted others at DLA Land and Maritime to join in the volunteerism each year.

Coleen McCormick, who serves as deputy director for the Strategic Acquisition Programs Directorate, said that for her, the best way to feel gratitude is to serve others.

“If we complain about a circumstance, or a person in our life, or a situation that we are in, it is very easy to take the focus away from what we are fortunate enough to have in our lives and fill it with the annoyance of the hour or day,” she said. “Taking my eyes off myself and my circumstance and focusing on serving others always brings me joy. The gratitude flows from realizing how truly fortunate I am in all aspects of my life. If I am “other focused,” my gratitude and my contentment flow from there. And it’s really fun to serve with co-workers and friends.”

DLA Land and Maritime associates volunteered to act as cart runners and forklift drivers during the Christmas Cheer distribution at the Lausche Building on the Ohio State Fairgrounds. The group was able to give back, providing smiles, encouraging words, and exchanges of laughter and stories.

Christmas Cheer is one of the largest holiday aid programs in Central Ohio. The program helps hundreds of lower-income families with a holiday food box and gifts for children 14 years and under. Families in need of toys and food signup at one of the local Salvation Army centers prior to the event.

Lori Banfield, the Salvation Army of Central Ohio’s Christmas Cheer volunteer coordinator, said that this year’s event provided 33,249 gifts for families and a total of 4,712 families received food for holiday meals.

The DLA Land and Maritime team had lunch together after the event and the joy in everyone’s heart was evident. The consensus among the group is that the experience was both humbling and uplifting. It is an important reminder to focus on ones’ blessings.

Editor’s Note: This article was submitted as part of DLA Land and Maritime’s Public Affairs Liaison Program. Interested submitters may contact the Public Affairs Office at dla.land.and.maritime.public.affairs@dla.mil

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