THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, December 17, 1995 TAG: 9512150179
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 19 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY GARY EDWARDS, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 58 lines
Carol D'Onofrio laughed as she stuffed a stocking with candy.
She said:``Whoever gets this, their mother is probably going to kill me. I should have put a toothbrush in it.''
D'Onofrio was one of about 30 employees of Nexcom and American Logistics Association who stayed late after work one day recently to help the needy during the holidays. Amid a spirit of convivial collegiality, the workers filled about 800 stockings with brushes, combs, coloring books and crayons - in addition to candy. The stockings are for children from 5 to 12 and will be distributed by the Salvation Army.
Nexcom is a private ``government instrumentality'' that services military exchanges, said Kim Lohf, community relations coordinator for Nexcom, which has its headquarters in a three-story building behind Hall Auto Mall on Virginia Beach Boulevard. The company also provides military lodging and uniforms, as well as serving ship stores. American Logistics Association is composed of vendors who sell to Nexcom.
``We had $2 billion in sales last year,'' Lohf said. Of that amount, $64 million went back to the military community's moral, welfare and recreation funds to improve the quality of life in the military, she said.
This is the third holiday helper campaign for Nexcom, but the first year that the employees held a party after the stocking stuffing.
Curtis Foote has been around for the last two. Foote is a key account manager for Eastman-Kodak and board member of American Logistics Association's Hampton Roads Chapter.
``It's the time of the year when we can stop, step back and put things in perspective,'' said Foote. ``The holidays are all about helping and giving.''
An hour later, after all the stockings were filled and readied for delivery, Foote stepped up and waved another gift - a $3,150 check from the association to be distributed among 300 local children.
``We doubled the number of kids we were able to help this year,'' said Foote to cheers and applause. ``Let's see if we can do that again next year.''
The two organizations also contributed 600 Angel Tree gifts for the Salvation Army's annual program.
``We both exceeded expectations,'' said Lohf. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by GARY EDWARDS
Curtis Foote, a board member of American Logistics Association's
Hampton Roads Chapter, and Kim Lohf, community relations coordinator
for Nexcom, were among the volunteers who helped fill children's
stockings to be distributed by the Salvation Army.
by CNB