'Tis the Season

Photo By Tech. Sgt. Austin Knox | Airman 1st Class Levi Pierce, 305th Operations Support Squadron, Airfield Management, participates in an interview at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., Nov. 18, 2020. Pierce was motivated by the COVID-19 pandemic, and inspired through the Holiday Season, to organize donation boxes across JB MDL that collected more than 1,000 food, hygiene and cleaning supply items that will positively affect 20,000 lives throughout the local community. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Austin Knox)  

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, NJ, UNITED STATES

12.03.2020

Story by Tech. Sgt. Austin Knox 

Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. — Airman 1st Class Levi Pierce is at his first duty station, assigned to the 305th Air Mobility Wing, and works in Airfield Management at the Operations Support Squadron.

He has not been home to Northwestern Ohio for almost two years, yet the time away has not swayed his inner values. They are the same core values that the Air Force proudly attracts.

“Back home, in my high school, they would have food drives every year,” said Pierce. “It just hit me that Thanksgiving is coming up, and it would be a great idea to just do this.”

Pierce dedicated himself, throughout October, to the charitable cause of supporting a local food bank. He organized donation boxes across JB MDL and collected more than 1,000 items, to include food, hygiene products and cleaning supplies. The donations will positively affect 20,000 lives within Mercer county.

“My supervisor liked the idea and encouraged me to have a plan and to do my research,” said Pierce. “Once he said that, I was like, ’Done! I will do it right now.’”

This need for charity arose from food banks across the country reporting shortfalls due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The first thing I did in the planning process was find an appropriate food bank that was doing a lot of good work,” Pierce explained. “I needed to know [this food drive] was going to affect people in the right way. The reason I chose [the food bank] is because they had done such good work over the summer, getting to kids without schools and such. They went door-to-door to give the kids food during the COVID pandemic.”

More than 20 people across the base volunteered to assist Pierce with collecting donations within their organizations.

“I found a lot of great people that wanted to help,” said Pierce. “It was amazing. I want to make it bigger next time.”

There are numerous service members like Airman Pierce among the JB MDL community. They are leaders that are formed through service to their country and communities.

“This current generation of Airmen believe that giving back and helping those in need is important,” said Capt. Parent, 305 AMW. “As an Airman, Pierce embraces the responsibility to be a model citizen and a positive influence on the youth, the youth who may one day choose to serve America and become leaders in our communities.”

For those who are interested in setting up a food drive of their own, contact the JB MDL Legal Office at 609-754-2010, regarding applicable preparatory actions.

If you have the desire to help those in need, but aren’t sure where to begin, below are some JB MDL resources that often have volunteer opportunities available:

Military and Family Support Center, [phone], www.gomdl.com
Red Cross Office, [phone], http://www.redcross.org/
Chapel, [phone], http://www.jointbasemdl.af.mil/Home/Chapel/

“Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.”
– Muhammad Ali

• Date Taken: 12.03.2020
• Date Posted: 12.08.2020 08:07
• Story ID: 384171
• Location: JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, NJ, US