Taxation Division Local Government Manager Lu Ann Pyatt (left) and Tax Conferee Bill Laird (second left) help Department of Revenue (DOR) Executive Director Mark Ferrandino (right) close a donation box as DOR Communications Director Meghan Tanis watches on Monday, Dec. 6 at DOR headquarters in Lakewood. DOR Team Members donated almost 9,000 winter items to Volunteers of America, Veterans Program for homeless and at-risk U.S. military veterans. (Derek Kuhn/Colorado DOR Photo)
Colorado Department of Revenue (DOR) Team Members are always looking for ways to serve Coloradans and the Department’s most recent effort just wrapped up with staff donating almost 9,000 winter items to homeless and at-risk U.S. military veterans.
Throughout November, DOR Team Members gathered 8,849 items, including 152 winter hats, 50 coats, 36 blankets, 104 winter gloves, 275 hand warmers, 346 pairs of socks, 11 shoes, 75 scarves, thousands of face masks and thousands of sanitary items, including shampoo, soap, wet wipes and toothbrushes. The items were donated to Volunteers of America, Veterans Program on Friday, Dec. 10.
The Department’s Employee Advisory Council (EAC) coordinated the state-wide donation drive in which all of the Department’s Divisions participated. The EAC is a volunteer group that works to enhance staff engagement, increase two-way communication within the organization and facilitate solutions to improve morale.
“The Donation Drive to Benefit Homeless and At-Risk Veterans was a big success. We would not have been able to have such a successful donation drive without the help of each and everyone of you who donated items, time, and transportation. Thank you for your generosity!” EAC Chairwoman Beckie Bean said.
Division of Motor Vehicles Emissions Team Member and EAC Service Projects Committee Chairwoman Noelle Meade agreed and said she’s proud to help military veterans who are going through a tough time.
“While I did not serve, my father was an Air Force veteran,” Meade said. “It makes me sad that any of our veterans are not already being taken care of. I feel like this is one small way we can do our part to help our veterans in need and I am proud of how much we donated to help.”
Division of Motor Vehicles Driver License Technician Kym Chavez (left), Taxation Division Local Government Manager Lu Ann Pyatt and Marijuana Enforcement Division Criminal Investigator Tori Gavito (right) organize and pack donations.
Division of Motor Vehicles Driver License Technician Kym Chavez packs a donation bag.
Colorado Department of Revenue (DOR) Team Members organize and pack donations on Monday, Dec. 6 at DOR headquarters in Lakewood.
Division of Motor Vehicles Driver License Technician Kym Chavez shows off a personal-hygiene bags filled with staff-donations.
Division of Motor Vehicles Senior Director and U.S. Army veteran Mike Dixon (left), Taxation Division Tax Conferee Bill Laird and Marijuana Enforcement Division Criminal Investigator Tori Gavito (right) organize and pack donations.
Division of Motor Vehicles Senior Director and U.S. Army veteran Mike Dixon (left) and Department of Revenue (DOR) Executive Director Mark Ferrandino carry boxes of donations to the staging area.
Colorado Department of Revenue (DOR) Team Members organize and pack donations.
Taxation Division Customer Contact Agent Sarah Morgan tapes a box of donated items.
Training Specialist Shannon Streif and Administrative Assistant Jessica Reese, both Division of Motor Vehicles Team Members, show one of the donation bags as they fill empty boxes with the bags.