NEW CUMBERLAND, Pa. –
Defense Logistics Agency Distribution’s Domon Barr, a supply management specialist with Distribution’s Material Management Division, spends his off-duty time volunteering as a chapter committee chair for the Blacks in Government Susquehanna, Pennsylvania chapter’s Military Veterans Emphasis Program. Barr draws on fellow Distribution employees throughout the year for their generous donations.
One specific event he participates in is near and dear to his heart.
“The BIG Covers Vets project is a donation campaign drive that is sponsored by the Blacks in Government Susquehanna chapter’s Military Veterans Emphasis Program.
“Under the MVEP program the organization has a program called Adopt-A-VA where we basically adopt our local Veteran’s Assistance center (which is the Lebanon VA Medical Center) and we provide support in volunteer services,” said Barr.
The MVEP serves as an internal consultant to BIG and promotes the use of the Veterans Administration and community programs, benefits and services for BIG military veterans and their family members. In addition, MVEP makes recommendations to the National Executive Committee that will better serve military veterans and their families.
BIG MVEP provides interpersonal and online information and support to BIG's military veterans and their families that create more effective pathways to military veteran-oriented resources provided by local and national government/commercial/private organizations by fostering synergies that help ensure BIG military veterans and families maximize military veteran-oriented resources and services.
“I am the MVEP Adopt-A-VA liaison for the chapter and I created the BIG Covers Vets Campaign. We collect blankets and essential items such as personal hygiene items for the veterans at the Lebanon VA and cleaning supplies for the Housing and Urban Development-VA Supportive Housing program that helps homeless vets get off the streets and into housing,” said Barr.
Barr, along with assistance from his chapter members, collected 200 blankets, 150 personal hygiene packets, over 100 bottles of cleaning solution, mops, sponges and an array of miscellaneous items such as coffee and non-perishable foods. Many of the donations were collected from employees at DLA Distribution. Stacy Umstead, deputy chief of staff, donated a hand-made crocheted blanket as well as 40 personal hygiene packets, 100 individual breakfast bags that included a K-cup, stirrer, sugar, creamer napkin and cookies. Coffee K-cups, razors and other hygiene products not consolidated into bags were donated as well and Umstead’s local Zumba class collected 261 pairs of socks!
Barr has been working and volunteering his time with this project since April this year.
“What makes this important to me is this is near and dear to my heart as I’m also a veteran that served 25 years. It’s always been my passion to help others and there’s nothing more gratifying than knowing I am able to help out fellow veterans and their families,” said Barr.