# A tradition continues for HDIFC employees to spread holiday cheer 

/ Published Dec. 11, 2023
BATTLE CREEK, Mich., 
Agency employees at Battle Creek’s Hart-Dole-Inouye Federal Center have played the role of Santa’s elves and partnered with the Salvation Army to bring Christmas to families in the local community for almost four decades now.

                Hart-Dole-Inouye Federal Center leaders stopped by the Battle Creek, Michigan, Salvation Army Chapel to assist staff and volunteers. Pictured left to right: Program Coordinator Kate Lambert Lee; DLA Disposition Services Installation Management Director, Bill Jerome; DLA Disposition Services Operations Branch Chief, Tim Dauten; DLA Disposition Services Resource Management Branch Chief Chris Judd; DLA Disposition Services Director, Mike Cannon; Salvation Army Co-Captain, Mike Roinila; Salvation Army Co-Captain, Grace Roinila, and DLA Disposition Services Deputy Director, Army Col. Andre Toussaint.                            Group                            Hart-Dole-Inouye Federal Center leaders stopped by the Battle Creek, Michigan, Salvation Army Chapel to assist staff and volunteers. Pictured left to right: Program Coordinator Kate Lambert Lee; DLA Disposition Services Installation Management Director, Bill Jerome; DLA Disposition Services Operations Branch Chief, Tim Dauten; DLA Disposition Services Resource Management Branch Chief Chris Judd; DLA Disposition Services Director, Mike Cannon; Salvation Army Co-Captain, Mike Roinila; Salvation Army Co-Captain, Grace Roinila, and DLA Disposition Services Deputy Director, Army Col. Andre Toussaint.            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: Jeff LandenbergerVIRIN: 231208-D-YU183-0007Through Adopt-A-Family, 51 families were provided gifts and groceries for the holidays this year. The community program supports families who are in need and pairs them with sponsors who will gift items like new clothing, toys, household supplies, and food. Many offices and work groups at the federal center volunteer together to sponsor a family and provide the donations. 

“We have a very generous workforce,” said DLA Disposition Services Director Mike Cannon. “Our employees look forward to doing this every year. We love doing it.” 

Using a wish list provided from each family, DLA employees shop, wrap and gather the donations for the family they sponsor and then deliver the family gifts to the Salvation Army on the morning of the distribution. Adults mainly ask for need-based items like bed linens, pots and pans, toilet paper, coats and gloves, and cleaning products. For kids, Barbie, as always, was a popular name on this year’s lists, alongside Matchbox cars, remote control cars, winter coats, and clothing basics. Many groups deliver their donations in totes and laundry baskets to help make distribution easier. 

Salvation Army Co-Captains Grace and Mike Roinila were onsite to greet volunteers and express their appreciation during the drop off. 

“When the federal center adopts families, it helps us do more for other families,” said Grace Roinila.   “Knowing these 51 families are taken care of allows us to use other donations for families who are not adopted this season. This is a huge blessing.”

                DLA Disposition Services Director Mike Cannon assists agency employees and local volunteers with a food and gift donation drop off at the Salvation Army.                            Cannon                            DLA Disposition Services Director Mike Cannon assists agency employees and local volunteers with a food and gift donation drop off at the Salvation Army.            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: Jeff LandenbergerVIRIN: 231208-D-YU183-0003Agency leaders also stopped by the Salvation Army Chapel to assist staff and volunteers. Cannon, DLA Disposition Services Deputy Director Army Col. Andre Toussaint, and DLA Installation Management Battle Creek Director Bill Jerome assisted with unloading vehicles and carts of donated gifts. 

“This is a great way to help families that need a little extra help this season,” said Jerome. “The cost of everything has gone up, my groceries, your groceries. I like that we include food along with the toys and family gifts.”

After items are dropped off by sponsors, the DLA volunteer team prepared for family pick up by staging and organizing gifts in the chapel. Holiday music played softly in the background as families arrived to receive their gifts and groceries. Volunteers greeted families and loaded their items on carts, and then helped load their vehicles. Many families appeared overcome with appreciation. Volunteers received words of gratitude and witnessed a few tears through smiles. The federal center’s participation and volunteers were coordinated by Kate Lambert Lee, the marketing manager for DOD’s local Morale, Welfare and Recreation office. 

“When you know we are adopting individuals and families who may be experiencing significant challenges and then you see families that resemble our own, it is easy to see it could have just as easily been us who had been in that situation,” remarked Lee.