With a little more than two weeks to go before the Dec. 15 Combined Federal Campaign deadline concludes, Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall has collected approximately 35 percent of its goal. As of Nov. 28, the installation had collected $16,500 of its $48,700 goal, said JBM-HH CFC campaign manager Barbara Edmondson.
"Helping others in times of difficulty is the true spirit of citizenship. The need is possibly greater now than practically any other time in our nation's history," wrote Edmondson in a post-Thanksgiving holiday newsletter she sent out to CFC key workers earlier this week. "As you make the final push, remember the one thing that can derail a campaign more so than any other is to simply leave information on someone's desk and not engage them in a discussion about CFC."
In the newsletter, Edmondson urged key workers to remind employees that the close of the campaign was approaching and that they still had an opportunity to contribute to CFC.
LeRoy Harris, CFC key worker and recreation specialist supervisor at the JBM-HH Community Recreation Center, said contributions in his division continue to come in.
"The main thing is there's a lot of need out there," he said, "especially with the military and people coming back from overseas."
Harris said he emphasizes a personal approach in soliciting employees to make contributions. "We all have family and we all know about [medical] problems people have," he added, citing charitable organizations that impact health conditions like diabetes, heart disease and strokes.
"It was easy for me, I've been giving ever since I was in the Army," said key worker Staff Sgt. Gregory Lowe, NCOIC of the White House Transportation Agency, regarding his approach in getting individuals to give to CFC. "All I had to do was go up to people and ask." He explained how he made sure to approach people several times to give them more than one opportunity to consider making a contribution. Haishin Choi, a fabric worker/tailor at the Central Issue Facility on JBM-HH said she relied on the good relationships she had with fellow employees to make the sale.
"It was an enjoyable experience. It was a chance to [better] get to know who they are," she said, explaining how conversations with her colleagues about CFC would lead to talk about sick family members or an employee's interest in animal welfare.
The important thing, Choi said, is "not to make people feel pressured." She said she stressed the variety of ways people could give and how they didn't have to designate a specific charity to make a difference with their donation.
On a couple of occasions, Choi said she brought in muffins, bananas and Halloween treats to circulate on a tray throughout the office, an enticement she said served as a follow-up pitch to those who had yet to give to CFC and a thank you to those who already had.
Key worker Robin Bowen, an administrative assistant with JBM-HH Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security, said she first talked to members of her office as a group before approaching them one-on-one about CFC. She said she also periodically sent out emails about Hurricane Sandy disaster relief and other charitable giving to remind them of the opportunities out there and provide an update on the campaign.
"It gives people a little push when they know where we're at," she said. "I don't like people to feel pressured."
"It's all for a good cause," said key worker Jacqueline Gandy, a safety specialist in the base safety office. "There are so many organizations you can give to."
For more information on how to donate to the CFC, contact your local key worker or Barbara Edmonson at 703-696-3110.
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