With the cooler temperatures of fall hitting Northeastern Ohio, Cleveland VA
Regional Office employees warmed the hearts of the local hungry under the “Warm
Up to Giving” food drive. The office ended the summer by concluding its
campaign to help a local food bank. In total, over 1,600 pounds of food were
collected through both traditional and unique ways.
While traditional ways included food collection boxes located throughout the
office, the Cleveland VA Regional Office thought outside the box to encourage
donations. At the office’s annual summer outing in late August, each attendee
was asked to donate a non-perishable food item. This successful family event
not only was a chance for employees to gather in a fun-filled environment, but
it also was a time to remember others in need through food donations. It was
encouraging for all summer outing volunteers to see the generosity of
co-workers and their families with the items collected.
In a further attempt to raise food donations, the Cleveland VA Regional
Office’s Director, Joyce Cange, also provided a pizza party to the work team
that donated the most food items. A group of 34 employees from the Cleveland VA
Regional Loan Center collected 740 food items, over 400 items more than any
other work team in the regional office. This earned the Regional Loan Center
team a free lunch with the Director and bragging rights among the over 600
employees of the VA benefits office.
Such commitment to community service and a dedication to the “Warm Up to
Giving” campaign, truly illustrate the warm hearts of Cleveland VA Regional
Office employees.
-Falana Banks
Program Analyst, Cleveland VA Regional Loan Center and Summer Outing
Volunteer
Cleveland VA Regional Office
Submitted by
Joyce Cange