As the holiday season became a memory and the cold, damp weather of winter became a reality, IBSS President Bruce Arvand began to deploy his plan to help people who have little to nothing. Before the holidays, he put out a call to IBSS employees asking for donations of new blankets, hats, gloves, socks, reusable face masks, and sleeping bags. He then mobilized staff local to the corporate headquarters to help wrap these items in a visually appealing way and then take them out to the streets and hand-deliver the packages to homeless individuals. Several different groups of employees delivered a total of 120 packages to individuals living on the streets or in tent cities in the D.C. and Baltimore area. One employee who distributed 10 packages in Baltimore said: “Their reactions were very heart touching. I’m grateful to be part of this team and make a very small impact.”

This is the second year that Bruce organized a blanket drive. The concept was birthed from a desire to meet the homeless where they live and make the winter months more bearable for them. Donations began arriving before the holidays and staff began packaging the items with big red bows or in brightly colored reusable bags. Last year, several homeless people mentioned they would like socks and hats that were not just black or gray, and they also mentioned they had difficulties obtaining face masks. This year, staff purposely chose items that had colors in them, hoping to pass along cheer as well as warmth. The people who received the packages were touched at the decorations and appreciated that the items were colorful.

The generosity and compassion of employees came just in time for harsh winter weather. Shortly after the care packages were distributed, temperatures in the D.C. area dropped to 18-20 degrees and the area received 8-10 inches of snow. The IBSS Volunteer Committee worked to coordinate the donations, setting up an Amazon registry to make it easier for staff to purchase items. The Committee, which meets weekly to manage company-organized volunteer initiatives, adjusted the registry weekly based on items received in order to balance out the quantities of items to make complete packages. Each package contained a blanket, a hat, a pair of gloves, three pairs of socks, and a set of face masks. Sleeping bags were available if the person asked for one. The Committee also organized the packaging of the winter gear as well as the distribution efforts. Staff not near the Silver Spring headquarters were encouraged to purchase items online and send them to the headquarters office or to purchase items and then donate them to homeless individuals in their local communities. You have brought joy and smiles to so many human beings that you have never met. Your gifts were well received and were much appreciated in this cold weather. The power of kindness and compassion is incredible, and it is contagious.

“The blanket drive has been the most successful charity event in the history of IBSS during the last 30 years. I would like to thank each of you from the bottom of my heart. I pray your goodness comes back to you and your family in health, joy, and prosperity,” Bruce Arvand, IBSS President.

About IBSS

Since 1992, IBSS, a woman-owned small business, has provided transformational consulting services to the Federal defense, civilian, and commercial sectors. Our services include information technology, environmental science and engineering, and professional management solutions. Our approach is to serve our employees by investing in their growth and development. As a result, our employees bring greater capabilities and provide an exceptional level of service to our clients. Our tagline, Powered by Excellence, is a recognition of the employees that make up IBSS and ensure we deliver results with quality, applying industry best practices and certifications. We apply our services, certified ISO 9001:2015, ISO 27001, ISO 20000, and CMMI, to deliver impactful consulting services to our clients.