Special Thanks to Our Donors
At Lockheed Martin, Angels Make a Difference.
For the past nine holiday seasons, Lockheed Martin’s Barbara Cisco has spearheaded her company’s annual Holiday Angel Drive in support of Community Care for the Elderly, now part of Seniors First. As part of this effort, in previous years, clients were invited to request a specific holiday gift, and each request is printed on an “Angel Tag.” Lockheed Martin employees chose to fulfill four or five Angel Tags each.
In 2007, Barbara distributed her usual 800 tags, most of which were claimed quickly. But one remained untouched on her desk. It was a modest request from an Orlando man in his early 90s, asking for a pair of suspender overalls.
“I thought I’d add this Angel Tag to the others and get a pair of overalls for this man,” recalls Barbara.
But her colleague Diana Blake noticed the unselected tag, too. She had recently lost her grandfather – and as it turns out, she had bought him overalls every year for Christmas. It seemed fitting to carry out her family tradition by fulfilling the remaining Angel Tag.
“The touching stories are endless,” says Barbara. “We are all so passionate about helping others, and our senior population really needs us.”
Seniors First and Community Care for the Elderly have benefited largely from the volunteer efforts of Lockheed Martin employees, who last year purchased and delivered holiday gifts for more than 800 seniors. This year’s drive, now called the Senior Shoebox Holiday Gift Drive, will enable Seniors First to reach nearly 4,000 clients. Lockheed will continue to support this drive by once again sponsoring 800 Seniors First clients. In addition to the gift drive, Lockheed volunteers conduct a springtime drive for personal care items, collecting 75 boxes for Seniors First in 2008.
“Everyone has a grandparent, parent or elderly neighbor story,” adds Barbara. “So our employees don’t see strangers; they see their mothers, fathers, favorite aunts or uncles.”
Lockheed Martin Orlando also sponsors a table each year at the Seniors First Holiday High Tea.
“Our involvement with Community Care for the Elderly and Seniors First has helped each one of us better understand and reap the benefits of giving to others,” says Barbara. “I encourage all employers, large and small, to do the same.”
