CDP employees answer call for volunteerism

Several Center for Domestic Preparedness employees recently participated in activities supporting the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s call for volunteerism.

The employees performed a wide range of acts of kindness, from pumping gas for elderly customers at a local service station to serving at kitchens which provide free meals to those less fortunate and making home repairs in low-income neighborhoods.

Among them was Human Resources Director Tonia Kelley, who helped assemble 200 care packages of food and hygiene items for homeless people in the area. The items were donated by a local non-profit organization, as well as individuals.

“I chose to volunteer to celebrate the legacy of Dr. King and his hope of a unified community. We are at our greatest when we become one,” she explained.

Management Analyst Tammy Sheppard, meanwhile, served as a science fair judge at a nearby underserved junior high school.

“I was fortunate, as a child, to have great role models, mentors, and coaches in my community who graciously volunteered their time to help mold and shape me into the person I am today,” she said.

“I believe in paying it forward and enjoy giving back to the youth of my community to inspire the next generation,” she added.

In addition to answering the call from Dr. King, this and other work by CDP employees involving underserved populations also supports one of FEMA’s primary goals, which is to help achieve equitable outcomes for those the agency serves.