RICHMOND, Va. –
There was an air of excitement on Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia, at the Defense Logistics Agency Installation Support at Richmond’s fire station Dec. 8 as employees drove through the fire truck bay dropping off gifts for the 113 angels adopted from Chesterfield County and Richmond City Public Schools.
DSCR employees have adopted angels from G. H. Reid, Bellwood, and Bensley Elementary Schools and Meadowbrook High School for more than 25 years. This year’s gifts included clothes, bikes, books, dolls, action heroes, and electronics.
“Because of the many construction projects and building renovations on DSCR, there was no location to have a gift drop off this year,” said Amy Clement, chief of DLA Aviation’s Public Affairs Office. “I was in a meeting with DLA Installation Support leaders in October and was concerned about not having a location to hold the Angel Tree gift drop off. Without hesitation, Fire Chief Don Rodgers immediately offered the fire station.
“Chief Rodgers, his firefighters and paramedics went above and beyond in decorating truck bays and providing refreshments and candy canes to volunteers and employees as they came through to drop off their gifts,” said Clement.
Firefighters helped unload gifts and also took the opportunity to pass out holiday and winter weather safety literature.
Angel tree volunteers liked the new drive-thru setup so much and it went so smoothly, Rodgers volunteered his facility again for next year.
“Hosting the drop off was a pleasure. These guys [our fire and emergency services personnel] always go above and beyond not only with fire and emergency issues, but in any way to help members of the community,” said Rodgers. “We have always adopted and provided gifts and when the need for a location and assistance with logistics came up, we knew it was the right thing to do to volunteer our help and facility. It’s also a great opportunity to educate the workforce about holiday safety when they drop off gifts, and we plan on partnering with the DLA Aviation Public Affairs Office for Angel Tree next year.”
“I am amazed and grateful every year of the support DLA employees provide to our local schools’ Angel Trees,” said Clement. “Not only do they open up their purses, but they also give their time to shop, wrap and bring gifts. Couple this with the Fire Department and the many military and civilian DLA volunteers who help facilitate and execute the program and you have a shining example of what giving back and helping those in need in our community means. This is what the true spirit of giving is about.”
“What a great program, I was so inspired by the level of giving that the DSCR community provided to those children,” said Rodgers. “We were truly blessed to be a part of this today. The firefighters and I had a great time working with everyone and we look forward to helping out in the future.”