Each year, our offices are encouraged to give back to the community by volunteering or donating to local non-profits—the Interstates Foundation partners with employees on these efforts. The Foundation is an employee-led organization focused on supporting our Interstates' communities. This year, they donated $14,000, which will support ten different food pantries and service organizations across seven states. Our team members in nine office locations coordinated service or food and supply drives as part of this project. Lisa Johnson, an Interstates employee and Foundation member, commented, "The Foundation is excited and amazed at the efforts of our offices. To us, this is a testament to Interstates' overall commitment to service." Check out how our offices participated.
Aberdeen, SD Regional Office
Boys and Girls Club in Aberdeen: The Boys and Girls Club provides an environment where children can achieve a positive self-identity, a healthy lifestyle, a strong character, educational success and social competency. With a donation, they are hoping to support the kids in the community. They choose this organization because the Boys and Girls Club provided meals for local children during COVID.
Brainerd, MN Regional Office
American Legion: Each year, the American Legion in Brainerd, MN, hosts a Thanksgiving Day dinner for the Brainerd Lakes Area. This dinner is available to anyone in the community and specifically serves shut-ins, and the Brainerd, MN regional office is donating to this meal. This will be the second year that the office has supported the local American Legion.
Cincinnati, OH Regional Office
Serve City: Located in Hamilton, OH, Serve City is a partnership of over 60 local churches that work together to provide food, clothing, shelter and other services to the local community. Many of the team members in the Cincinnati office are volunteers with the organization. Team members held a food/supply drive and delivered the drive items and a donation to Serve City.
Fort Collins, CO Regional Office
Food Bank for Larimer County: The Food Bank of Larimer County feeds 37,500 people annually through their community partnership and hunger-relief programs. Our Fort Collins, CO office held a food drive and had a monetary donation for this organization. This office often thinks of the food bank and feels their values align with Interstates' values.
Fort Dodge, IA Regional Office
Upper Des Moines Opportunity (UDMO)-Webster: UDMO is located in 12 northwest and north-central Iowa communities. Their goal is to provide self-sufficiency for families by assisting with basic needs (clothing, food, transportation, etc.). Our Fort Dodge, IA regional office is providing food and monetary donations to UDMO. They also will participate in Adopt a Family with UDMO. UDMO will give information on 2-3 families, and Interstates team members will shop for and distribute Christmas presents for the family. They have worked with the organization before and appreciate the mission to support local Fort Dodge families.
Lubbock, TX Regional Office
South Plains Food Bank: This foodbank is part of Feeding America and Feeding Texas. They have three Lubbock, TX locations, and work to end hunger through three main programs: Children's Feeding, Mobile Pantry and Our Farm, Orchard and GRUB. Lubbock, TX regional office is accepting food donations and are providing a monetary gift to the organization. They wanted to support a local food bank that helped the community during the pandemic and Thanksgiving.
Manhattan, KS Regional Office
Flint Hills Breadbasket (FHBB): Breadbasket is a Community Food Network that serves the Manhattan, KS community. This office is donating to FHBB, which will directly support one of the organization's programs. One of the Manhattan, KS regional office team members served as the co-chair and volunteer on a city-wide food drive with FHBB. One of the food programs that she became passionate about was the backpack snacks. These snacks give children in need something to eat over the weekends.
Omaha, NE Regional Office
Open Door Mission: Open Door Mission focuses on breaking the cycle of homelessness and poverty. They provide shelter, meals, and resources to the Omaha, NE community. Our Omaha, NE regional office had a toy drive to support this organization. This is the third year they've supported the organization and have enjoyed making a fun Christmas for local families.
Sioux Center, IA Offices
Hope Food Pantry: Located in Sioux Center, IA, Hope Food Pantry is committed to restoring hope to the community by providing community members their necessities. One way to do this is through free grocery services for those under the poverty line. The Sioux Center offices are hosting a food drive to support this organization. They chose this organization because it not only serves Sioux Center but all of Sioux county. They've been serving 90-100 families even through COVID-19.
Sioux Falls, SD Regional Office
Children's Inn: The Children's Inn's mission is to empower domestic violence victims and create a safe space for those fleeing dangerous situations at home. Not only did this office choose this organization because October is National Domestic Abuse Awareness Month, but also to help those running from dangerous situations with very little and looking for a safe place. They held a drive to collect items that Children's Inn requested as well as a financial donation.
