This past holiday season, associates from Duke Realty’s Washington, D.C. office—including Battista Orcino, Vice President of Leasing—volunteered at the National Capital Area Command of the Salvation Army to assist with Angel Tree, the Salvation Army’s holiday assistance program. Three associates from the Baltimore office assisted with a similar effort at the Baltimore Area Command.

Each year the Angel Tree program provides new clothing and toys to thousands of children from families in need. This is the first year that Duke Realty has helped out with the National Capital Area Command. “For six or seven years before that,” says Orcino, the D.C. office helped out with Salvation Army efforts at the Baltimore Area Command.

“Volunteering in the Capital area,” Orcino says, “lets us help out even closer to home.” Duke Realty’s Baltimore office will continue the company’s contributions to the Salvation Army in Baltimore.

Associates in both Duke Realty offices provided toys and clothes for several of 2014’s Christmas Angels, with the D.C. office sponsoring eight children this past year. In addition, D.C. associates decorated the distribution center and helped to package many more clothes and gifts for families, as can be seen in the photo above. “You’re struck first by how much need there is,” Orcino says, “but also by how much giving is taking place. Clearly, a lot of people have been very generous.”

Orcino says he and three other members of D.C.’s Community Service Committee are finding other ways to help out in the community this spring and fall. “We’re fortunate,” he says, “to work at a company that gives us a number of community service days.” He looks forward to having many more chances this year to give back to the area and build relationships with area neighbors.