Celebrating the power of volunteerism & community involvement

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1 Celebrating the power of volunteerism & community involvement Presented by Rotary Clubs of Addison, Addison Midday, Carrollton-Farmers Branch, Coppell, and Farmers Branch Hosted by Chair Maureen Corcoran Monday, October 15, 2018 Courtyard Marriott, Carrollton Conference Center 1201 Raiford Rd Carrollton, TX

2 Tony Waterbury In the employment department, I enjoyed giving clients the confidence they needed to get a job. Tony began his volunteer experience at Metrocrest Services in 2002 by meeting one-on-one with clients participating in the Employment Program. He was one of the first volunteer Employment Counselors and helped hundreds of clients during his tenure. These individuals were in the process of, or ready to begin, job searches and Tony listened to each person s life experiences and challenges. He then offered guidance and encouragement regarding their desire for a second job, a higher paying position, or work in a more stable environment. Metrocrest Services places a strong emphasis on providing assistance that will help individuals be selfsufficient and when Tony reflected on this volunteer experience he said he felt like he was helping clients change their lives for the long term. He helped them build their resume, confidence, and encouraged them to go meet the employers in person. In 2016, Tony switched his focus to Metrocrest Services Food Pantry operations where he now works on Thursdays. There he helps keep nonperishable foods, fresh produce, and household supplies restocked and ready for clients. To ensure a positive experience for visitors to the pantry, he greets each client and personally assists them as they select items for themselves and their families. By sharing his time and positive attitude, Tony is letting clients know that Metrocrest Services cares about them. Thank you, Tony!

3 First Christian Church Year in and year out, First Christian Church is one of the organizations that supports Metrocrest Services and the community in a variety of ways. Their commitment to helping others can be seen throughout the community. First Christian Church has a history in Carrollton dating to 1902 and, for at least the last twenty-five of those years, they have generously chosen to work with Metrocrest Services. During this time they have perfected the best way to conduct service projects. When a call goes out to congregants for helpers or for donations their members respond. One example is their Good Food for Families monthly food drives where members bring canned food, cleaning supplies, and toiletries to church and the items are then donated to the pantry at Metrocrest Services. Volunteer teams from First Christian Church report monthly for Saturday work shifts in the pantry. Throughout each year they are involved in Metrocrest Services programs which benefit those in need. They serve children by donating and volunteering during Sack Summer Hunger to ensure area youngsters have meals while out of school. They also give supplies and work to fill backpacks during the Back to School program. They provide both financial support and smiling volunteers to fit local students with new school shoes. During fall and winter, church members donate nonperishable foods and then sort and pack family boxes that will be distributed prior to Thanksgiving and during December. To complete their efforts for the year, First Christian Church volunteers help at the Metrocrest Services Holiday Site and assist clients as they select toys and gifts for their children. Under the leadership of Harold Elias-Perciful, First Christian Church members demonstrate the vital role that a compassionate faith-based group can have in a community. Thank you, First Christian Church!

4 Judy Holleman Judy has always been one of our go-to volunteers when we have an immediate need. Her passion to feed everyone, pets included, makes her lovable and committed to Metrocrest Services. Judy Holleman started out as the meat lady to Metrocrest Services staff. For years, in the 1990 s she would purchase meat on clearance and bring it to the Food Pantry. At some point, she convinced the local grocery stores to start donating it. As in a retail store, restocking pantry shelves for customers is a never-ending cycle and for years Judy has played a role in ensuring clients have access to a variety of food options for their family meals. When Judy retired in 2003, she started volunteering in the Food Pantry. Whether interacting with clients, expediting transfer of supplies, or providing support and direction to new volunteers, she is vital to maintaining productivity. After realizing that some pantry visitors express concerns about feeding their four-legged family members, Judy (an Operation Kindness volunteer for ten years) advocated and worked to stock pet food items. She has been instrumental in making sure clients or their pets are not missing meals. Lastly, Judy has been a financial supporter of a wide range of Metrocrest Services programs during her tenure. Many individuals and families have been impacted by her generosity. Her behind-the-scenes work to provide funds during agency donation drives has been instrumental in increasing the involvement of others. She wears her red agency tee shirt with pride and does not hesitate to tell others why it s a good idea to get involved with Metrocrest Services. Thank you, Judy!

5 Southern Glazer s Wine & Spirits Southern Glazer s is the world s pre-eminent distributor of beverage alcohol and proud to be a multi-generational, family-owned company. The company has nearly 22,000 employees and operates in 44 states, the District of Columbia, Canada, and the Caribbean. In addition to a commitment to corporate giving in the areas of responsible alcohol consumption, hospitality education, and diversity and inclusion, Southern Glazer s supports and contributes to a broad range of charitable organizations in communities where their employees live and work. Originally, employees at the Southern Glazer s in the Metrocrest area teamed up with coworkers at their plant in Dallas on volunteer projects. Since the Metrocrest Services Food Pantry, offices, and warehouse are all located in Farmers Branch, the decision was eventually made to engage in volunteer activities closer to Southern Glazer s operations. As a result, families living in the Metrocrest Services service area have greatly benefited. Holding a food collection drive to help feed area families was the first event Southern Glazer s undertook with Metrocrest Services. Such donation efforts are essential to providing variety in the food items available for distribution to the 200 families visiting the pantry each week. In addition, employees regularly pack family food boxes during the fall months in preparation for high-volume distribution to families during November and December. During the summer months, Southern Glazer s employees have proven to be superstars at donating backpacks, notebooks, crayons, and other necessary supplies for area students during the Metrocrest Services Back to School program.

6 Southern Glazer s team members are also regular participants during the annual Holiday Basket project which benefits low-income senior adults. Employees not only donate essential household supplies and foods, but generously provide each senior s wish list item, such as a blanket or warm sweater. Employees literally wrap up this holiday effort by placing the items in decorated baskets or boxes. In 2017 forty-five seniors received baskets made possible by Southern Glazer s. Southern Glazer s employees understand that every little bit goes a long way, especially when giving to individuals who have so little. By generously donating and volunteering, they have touched many in their community. Thank you, Southern Glazer s Wine & Spirits!

7 SAGE SAGE s strong sense of community aligns perfectly with Metrocrest. SAGE provides technology-based marketing and business management solutions for the promotional products industry. A major goal, when the Addison company created a Community Service Committee, was to identify ways for employees to expand their involvement in the area. The company s emphasis on nurturing a sense of community, both internally among staff and externally with customers, led them to team up with Metrocrest Services on projects benefiting area residents. During their first volunteer experience, SAGE workers arrived for a sorting project at Metrocrest Services and saw for themselves the tremendous volume of food necessary to meet local needs. SAGE employees knew then that they could have an active role in serving local families. During their nine years of involvement, SAGE employees have generously conducted workplace raffles and silent auctions to generate donations in support of Metrocrest Services programs. They especially get excited about contributing to the annual Back to School distributions which outfitted thousands of students since their involvement. When employees were asked what they got out of volunteering, they responded that, in addition to feeling fortunate for what they have personally, they gained a desire to do more for those living insecure lives. By providing employees avenues through which they can volunteer--on work time--sage shows a true commitment to the welfare of the community. Thank you, SAGE!

8 Thank You to our Sponsors! Presenting Sponsor Clubs of Addison, Addison Midday, Carrollton-Farmers Branch, Coppell, & Farmers Branch Action Sponsors Service Sponsors PAUL & MARY JOINER Advocacy Sponsors Carrollton Host Lions Club City of Carrollton City of Coppell City of Dallas City of Farmers Branch Brookhaven College Liberty Capital Bank PlainsCapital Bank Sam Pack s Five Star Ford Carrollton In honor of Metrocrest Services Volunteers Southwest Airlines St. Matthais Anglican Church Town of Addison North Lake College TeksInc. Western Extrusions Supporting Sponsors BB&T Bank Coppell ISD J. Reneé Group Jeff Knowlton Kroger Lone Star Benefits Mobility Credit Union Royal General Contractors, Inc St. Joseph Village Christus Health Valwood Improvement Authority Friends Sponsors Associa Bobby Fletcher, Realtor Chamberlin Roofing Dianne Fletcher Downstream Advisors, Inc EMJ Construction Edward Jones Investments - Lucy Gore Faith United Presbyterian Church Generate Life Church Lou Sartor North Lake College Maureen Corcoran Oncor SAGE St. Ann Catholic Parish TXU Energy