COLUMBUS, Ohio –
Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime’s Level III Mentoring Program introduced its class of 2020 in January 2018. The protégés have been busy since then; working with their mentors, facilitating local events, attending leadership development activities, shadowing and mentoring others. One of the team building and leadership development activities was a High Ropes Challenge at Camp Mary Orton in September.
Camp Mary Orton serves children, families, schools, communities and corporate groups. Their mission is to empower individuals, strengthen families and foster community goodwill. The High Ropes Challenge is a unique, fun and impactful experience and the group found it challenging, yet rewarding.
In learning more about each other and about the mission at Camp Mary Orton, the team left energized and inspired to make a bigger impact on DLA Land and Maritime and the community as a whole.
In an effort to better support the surrounding community the Level III protégés stepped away from the workplace to partner with the Bloom Baptist Church in Lithopolis, Ohio, and volunteered at the Stowe Mission Center of Central Ohio Oct. 25.
Stowe Mission of Central Ohio is a Christ-focused inner-city ministry. The Stowe Mission provides free services including meals, food pantry, health and dental care, eye clinic and education for Central Ohio residents in need. Bloom Baptist has been volunteering at the Stowe Mission for 11 years serving hot meals, providing after school tutoring, and participating in school supply, grocery and Christmas toy giveaways.
Stowe welcomes volunteers to serve the community and grow as individuals and leaders, so protégés put on aprons and stepped up to serve lunch alongside other DLA employees. The basic duties included setting up, preparing and serving food, helping the patrons as needed and cleaning up; but the impact was so much more than these small tasks.
The experience was eye opening, heartwarming and humbling. Protégés were greeted with smiles and blessings, and were engaged with friendly small talk and heartfelt appreciation. It was humbling to see so many in need and yet joyous to see them served a hearty meal.
The group served approximately 325 lunches and all leftovers were passed out after the meal.
The protégés agreed the time was well spent bringing a little more hope to someone’s day and they plan to look for other community outreach opportunities as they progress through their mentoring experience.