Whether collecting stuffed animals or filling boxes of food for seniors, employees share personal time, resources

Volunteers who helped out Hunger Task Force.

Teams of our employees recently shared their personal time to help many in need. In one activity, they put together  Hunger Task Force stockboxes, which provide healthy food for low-income seniors. Each box contains 16 healthy items, including rice, cereal, juice, beef stew, pasta and vegetables. The Hunger Task Force delivers the boxes to low-income seniors free of charge. Each month, nearly 10,000 boxes are delivered to seniors, helping them stretch their budgets.

Our team of employees and family members built a total of 480 stockboxes in just three hours.

“It was a great feeling knowing we helped so many,” said Ceil Nish. “As I placed the food in the boxes and looked at the items, it was sad to think this might be the only food some have in their home for days. I hope we can help them out again! It also reminded me how fortunate I am to have a good job working at a great company with so many amazing co-workers.”

“It felt good to help others, to work hard and know that we were working all together to give back a little bit to make someone’s day a little better,” said Nettie Raue.

“Just knowing we were doing this to help better the lives of others was thanks enough,” said Socorro Gonzales. Tiffany Greer summed up the thoughts of the team, noting “it’s amazing how easy it is to give just a little of yourself to help those with greater needs.”

In addition, our customer service and field service supervisors conducted a drive within our Customer Operations department to collect stuffed animals. Fifty-four stuffed animals were donated to the Comfort Creature program at Columbia St. Mary’s in Milwaukee and 62 went to Goodwill. The stuffed animals are used by the hospital to help put a child at ease when coming to the emergency room or hospital, or when coming to the hospital with an ill adult.

Goodwill sells the animals, using the sales to fund job training programs, employment placement services and other community-based programs for people who have disabilities, lack education or job experience, or face employment challenges.