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FREDERICK, Md. - In the spirit of holiday giving, Naval Medical Logistics Command (NMLC) personnel volunteered 51 man-hours and sorted more than 640 cubic feet of donated canned and dry goods at the Frederick, Md., food bank Dec. 12, 2012.
Operated by the Frederick Community Action Agency (FCAA), the George L. Shields Food Bank provides a three- to five-day supply of food to families and individuals who are facing an economic crisis. It serves 600 to 800 households each month, ranging from low-income families who use the food bank on a regular basis to moderate-income families who need food assistance less frequently.
Naval Medical Logistics Command military and civilian personnel have been involved with sorting activities at the food bank since 2009. Their involvement helps regular volunteers prepare bagged items that make distribution orderly.
“Our regular volunteers include individuals and civic/church groups that donate their time in the food bank sorting, preparing, serving and distributing perishable and non-perishable good. Many volunteer on a regular schedule, but we can also accommodate infrequent volunteering if desired,” said Sarah McAleavy, the FCAA food bank coordinator.
The FCAA provides a wide array of programs and services to the community that includes food donations through the food bank, shelter and housing, medical care, transportation and other forms of assistance to families and individuals who are low-income or homeless.
“At the food bank, we need volunteers to sort the canned goods and re-stock the shelves, handout groceries, perform data entry on the computer system to track the number of families using the food bank and do light maintenance that might include wiping down shelves, recycling cardboard boxes or something along those lines,” McAleavy said.
Personnel from NMLC who routinely volunteer at the food bank shared their thoughts on the importance of donating time, money and effort to others who are less fortunate.
“Volunteering is a way to anchor myself to the concept of living simply and not beyond my means. It's very easy to lose track of how fortunate we are as individuals, and to volunteer our time to help others provides a glimpse into the lives of people in need,” said Tanzy Logue, NMLC’s Outfitting Support Administrator and the individual who has coordinated NMLC’s participation with the food bank for the past three years.
“Our time volunteering impacts others we have never met in such a big way. I feel privileged to be able to give because I have a job when many do not. I give to others, more often than I receive, but I give because I am able, not because it's required. Life is volatile and one day I may need the food bank or other resources provide by the FCAA,” Logue said.
Other NMLC members agreed with Logue’s comments about volunteering and giving freely of their time in support of those who are less fortunate. Logistics Specialist Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael S. Kick said, “I get a feeling of personal satisfaction knowing that I can help those in need.”
Clifford Dunlap, NMLC’s Medical and Dental Complex and Equipment Platform Manager seconded that emotion. “Today, so many people get wrapped-up in their personal lives that they tend to forget about people who are having a tough time just ‘living life.’ No matter what their circumstances, we are blessed to have good jobs and a place to call home, while many people are not so fortunate. Volunteering is a great way to give back to the community.”
McAleavy expressed her gratitude for NMLC’s community involvement at the food bank and she believes their volunteerism is noteworthy. “Personnel from the Naval Medical Logistics Command always come during the holidays when we are inundated with donations and have a hard time keeping-up with the sorting,” she said. “I honestly don't know how we would do it without them.”
As 2013 begins to shape up, rest assured that personnel from the Naval Medical Logistics Command will continue to have a positive impact on the local and surrounding communities through their volunteer activities.
Naval Medical Logistics Command, located on Fort Detrick, Md., is Navy Medicine’s center of logistics expertise. It designs, executes and administers individualized state-of-the-art solutions to meet customer's medical materiel and healthcare needs. For more information about at NMLC visit www.nmlc.med.navy.mil.
| Date Taken: | 01.08.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 01.08.2013 11:45 |
| Story ID: | 100083 |
| Location: | FREDERICK, MARYLAND, US |
| Web Views: | 171 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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