NEWS

DIA Intern Exemplifies Leadership During Federal Food Drive.

August 17, 2012

With more than 16,500 military and civilian employees worldwide, DIA enthusiastically supports the Fed Feeds Families (FFF) Food Drive. Cierra Liles, DIA Intern, is an active member on DIA's FFF planning team, helping to make sure agency donation bins remain full. As of Aug. 17, DIA has collected 6,371 pounds of food to donate to local shelters in the North Capital Region.

"Cierra has been invaluable to this effort. She's learning how to manage a large project—organizing details, motivating a large group of volunteers, documenting results," said Barbara Estock Mays, chief, Outreach Programs (CP5) "It was fantastic for us to get her on the project from beginning to end and the experience will suit her well in her next job."

What do you do as an intern for DIA?
I've been with DIA since August 2011 and plan to extend my internship until my graduation in May 2013. In addition to my work coordinating DIA's FFF campaign, my general duties include consolidation and review of memorandums of agreements and understanding, assisting with Council of Employees meetings, and assisting with other activities and issues in support of the agency's mission.

How do you help with DIA's FFF campaign?
My assistance includes collecting food three times a week from donation boxes around the building, and weighing and packaging the food at the loading dock so it is assembled and ready for pickup. I'm involved in marketing the campaign to the workforce by putting out donation boxes and distributing flyers and posters. I also communicate with the FFF coordinators to schedule pickups, report donation progress and recruit volunteers.

Why is DIA's participation in FFF so important?
DIA's participation is so meaningful because it allows individuals that have the comfort of daily food, water and hygiene products to share, through the goodness of their hearts, with those who are much less fortunate. During the summer when children are not in school, and local food banks have a lower supply, there is an increase in the amount of times a day the food bank needs to feed these children. If each employee at DIA were to bring in just one can of food, we would have more than 6,000 cans that would bring happiness to so many individuals and their families.

What sorts of events can employees get involved in?
In August DIA's Counsel of Employees will sponsor One Can Day to motivate employees to donate at least one can of food. It would be an astronomical accomplishment for DIA if we could get 100 percent employee participation and an even greater benefit to those at the food bank.

Why is hunger unacceptable to you?
Many take for granted the fact that we have food to eat, clean water to drink, soap and toothpaste to bathe, and utensils to use so that we don't have to eat with our hands. Not very often do we think about those less fortunate who only wish to have these basic necessities. What if it was us who couldn't feed our family for the week or didn't have the resources to bathe regularly? Hunger is unacceptable to me; I know that if I was the less fortunate one and hungry for food, I would be so grateful that someone would help me. It especially hurts to see young children without anything to eat because often they can't fend for themselves.

Hunger is a worldwide epidemic affecting millions of people each day. While we may not be able to feed the entire world we can start by feeding the community – that is what FFF is all about. I strongly encourage all to donate. Whether it is only one can or 250 pounds of food, anything you can give will be of great value to those in need.

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DIA’s mission is unique and no other agency matches its military expertise across such a broad range of intelligence disciplines.