By Lydia Browne
“Going to the ends. Where no one else goes.” This is the mission of World Vision, a humanitarian organization that works in communities around the world.
Timothy Covell has worked for World Vision for the past 7 years as the Supply Chain Director. At the same time as he started his new job, he and his wife moved from Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Puyallup, Washington. “I enjoy the climate [in Puyallup,]” he said, “it has very moderate temperatures, [and] I enjoy not having snow. I love the surroundings with the beautiful mountains, trees, Puget Sound, and the wonderful hiking. I don’t like the cost of living. . . It has a much higher cost of living [than Milwaukee.] I [also] don’t like the traffic.”
When asked why he decided to start working for World Vision, Covell replied, “That’s a long story, [but] here’s the short version: I wanted to use my supply chain experience in service to people. . . [As the] Supply Chain Director, I manage a team that processes donations of products to World Vision to support community development and those in poverty.”
World Vision focuses mainly on two things: community development and disaster relief. “[The area of] community development encompasses clean water, healthcare, education, agriculture, and small business development,” Covell explains. “World Vision will work in a community for 10-20 years with the goal of creating sustaining mechanisms so that they can pull out and allow the community to be successful in the future. [They also] support the relief effort after disasters. We respond to tsunamis, hurricanes, fires–such as the one in Hawaii– [and] earthquakes. When asked how he would describe the organization, Covell said, “World Vision is a Christian organization that is passionate about caring for those in poverty because they believe that God loves them.”
Covell’s job, like all others, comes with its ups and downs. “I like working with a great team of people that are passionate about serving others and it’s rewarding working for an organization that is committed to serving in very challenging areas of the world, even though it’s difficult, on the behalf of families and children in need,” he said. “I enjoy working with the goal of serving mankind as opposed to working at a corporation where the goal is simply to make money. [However,] My work in supply chain is a very niche area in World Vision U.S. The primary roles are fundraisers and marketers who enable the work that goes on around the world, so not a lot of people in the organization are in positions or have jobs like mine. That makes me feel like kind of an oddball at times.”
The struggles of those around the world is a very important issue in Covell’s mind. “It’s good to be aware of the challenges that people have around the world,” he said. “One thing that always makes me appreciate living in a home and having food in my kitchen and having clothes on my back is seeing the millions of refugees around the world. It really makes me realize how blessed I am.” He mentioned one experience in particular that really opened his eyes. “When I was in Ethiopia I witnessed teenagers and younger children carrying 5 gallon water bottles to dirty water holes on the side of the road, pulling dirty water out of a hole. It broke my heart seeing them take this dirty water that they were going to drink and possibly get sick from. When I got home, I was struck by the sight of water sprinklers in people’s yards, throwing clean water on grass, knowing that there are people that don’t have clean water to drink.”
High school students also have the opportunity to help. “There is an advocacy program where people can contact government officials on behalf of the poor and those that need care,” Covell said. “Directly, there is a sponsorship program for about 35 dollars a month [that supports] children from challenging parts of the world. This program [is great because it] has a significant impact for a small amount of money.”
Just as Timothy Covell strives to make a difference in the world through his career, high school students have opportunities to make a difference both in their community and in communities worldwide. Like World Vision, go “to the ends. Where no one else goes.”
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