Every year, our dedicated employees participate in many volunteer efforts throughout the region. Whether it’s in the office or on their own time, our employees are committed to our mission of “Making Your Life Better.” We have a highly-active Volunteer Activities Committee (VAC) that organizes volunteer opportunities every single month, allowing us to engage and improve the communities we serve.
From Rebuilding Together Pittsburgh, to the March for Babies, to Light the Night, our employees band together to make a difference. Here are some of our favorite volunteer activities this year:
Wild Earth Day
To celebrate Earth Day, we supported a special Wild Earth Day event at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium on April 21st. This event was part of our larger Earth Day celebration, and one of the many ways that we showed our appreciation of the environment. Our employee volunteers manned craft and game stations for kids, helping to educate them about conservation. They also got their hands dirty and helped to clear out brush for a new exhibit. In short, Wild Earth Day was a roaring success (pun intended).
Protecting the environment is one of our core pillars, and we believe it’s important to take action to support that goal. We can’t wait to celebrate Earth Day again next year!
Food Bank Repacking
Although we’re always looking for new ways to aid the community around us, some volunteer activities, like our semi-annual visit to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, will always hold a special place in our hearts. Since the 1980s, our employees have volunteered to support the Food Bank, and this year was no different. In our most recent volunteer outing, 25 Peoples employees visited the Food Bank and packed over 12,000 lbs. of food!
“This tradition has become a favorite of many employees,” says Mary F., a Peoples employee. Mary loves this activity and other volunteer opportunities she’s participated in because she’s able to truly make a lasting impact on the lives of the people around her.
Scouting for Food
For 25 years, we have participated in Scouting for Food, a fundraiser sponsored by the Boy Scouts of America. This company-wide event takes place during the month of April, when our employees collect food and raise money for the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank and other great local organizations. This year our employees collected 61 boxes of food and raised more than $700. This annual food drive and fundraiser has become a favorite all across the company—this year, 100% of our Pikeville, Kentucky employees participated!
Meals on Wheels
Meals on Wheels is a monthly activity for our volunteers at Peoples, supported through Lutheran SeniorLife in Pennsylvania. Every first Wednesday of the month, a group of our employees spends their lunch hour helping the Meals on Wheels cause by making small gifts that are then given to Meals on Wheels participants. Although we may never directly see the people we impact, representatives often tell us how much the participants appreciate these little gifts, whether it’s a decorative lunch bag or a colorful lollipop.
When asked why she volunteers, Peoples employee Jennieve O. said she wants to pay it forward. “While growing up, we didn’t have a lot of money and there were many times that our church helped us out. I try to give back so I can show my appreciation in the same ways that I was helped.”