Here at ReEmployAbility, there is a strong passion for service to the community. In fact, it is the cornerstone of what makes our Transition2Work program such a success. When we place injured workers at non-profit organizations, the transitional assignments provide an improved sense of value and self-esteem and help injured employees heal while making a valuable contribution to the community.
Our dedication to the community does not stop there. We are constantly looking for new ways to give back to the community. This past weekend is a great example of our commitment. We held our annual company-wide food drive and Co-founders Deb Livingston and Frances Ford gathered the troops and headed to Metropolitan Ministries – a local organization that provides support to those who are homeless or who are at risk of becoming homeless by assisting them with food, clothing, shelter, and other services – to lend a hand.
“We have volunteered at Metropolitan Ministries for the past 8 years,” Deb said. “It’s a tradition that we are very proud of and we are so grateful to have a team that is just as dedicated to giving back as we are.”
This years’ experience was a little different than what the crew is used to. In the previous years they have assisted families in the Holiday Tent. There they would help families “shop” for groceries and toys, entertain the kids, and provide refreshments to the families.
This year they worked in the kitchen preparing and serving food for the families who live in Metropolitan Ministries’ Outreach Center, a transitional housing development. Working in the kitchen, preparing food for hundreds was harder work for the team, but they all felt that it was worth it.
“It was really an eye-opening experience,” Deb said. “You don’t realize what a great need there is in our community and how much and how many people Metropolitan Ministries helps on a daily basis. It is such a great organization and I am proud to dedicate my time and call the organization a non-profit partner.”
First time volunteer Crystal Dixon, a Sales Assistant for ReEmployAbility, said that many people may get caught up in their own to realize all of the luxuries that many of us have.
“The experience was both heartwarming and heart-wrenching at the same time,” Crystal said. “Volunteering at Metropolitan Ministries gave me only a glimpse into how hard the staff works to provide for families and the community on a daily basis. They were all so friendly, and so grateful for our help, that I can only imagine how loved the families they feed on a regular basis must feel.”
Crystal added that though this was her first time volunteering for the ministry, it has inspired her to give more.
“I’ll definitely be volunteering my time and resources regularly to do my part to help keep this ministry thriving in our community,” she said.
Though volunteering is extremely popular around the holidays, Metropolitan Ministries needs help year round. The organization is always open to any donations you may have throughout the year. Please visit their website to find out information on all of the many ways you can give back.
http://www.metromin.org/ways-to-give/
