We’re not a large company. Including our out-of-towners, we total only 40. However, we try to make an impact that is greater than our numbers.
Locally, we’ve chosen to support the Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina with our hands and backs. Several times a year, a team of us works for at least a ½ day doing whatever the food bank directors ask of us. Usually this consists of unpacking and separating donated household items or food into organizational bins. Without this layer of volunteer help provided by numerous local volunteers, the food bank would have a hard time dispersing all of the donations it receives.
Jackrabbit also supports Grain of Wheat International, a worldwide organization that helps to provide the most impoverished children in the world with basic needs. This is important to us because our software serves organizations all over the world that provide activities for children. It makes perfect sense for our global community service project to focus on needy children. In addition to financially supporting GOW’s daily operations, Jackrabbit does hands-on projects such as packing backpacks with hygiene supplies, socks and mittens and collecting gently used soccer equipment to send to children’s centers trying to provide sports recreation for children in impoverished areas.
Hands-on community service projects provide us with the opportunity to give back. These opportunities also bring us together – and that is important since we’re a virtual company and work from home offices. And even though our financial support to GOW isn’t hands-on, it is important to us that our financial resources are helping to keep a global organization operational.
Jackrabbit’s volunteer team also participates in local events such as The Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure and the American Heart Heart Association Heart Walk. We take great pride in participating in these events to further research that can benefit us all.
Our community service isn’t about being recognized but we do want others to see that we’re a group that is passionate about helping – so we have volunteer t-shirts to wear for every work day and every event. We have fun when we work together to help others. It’s rewarding. Each of us knows that we have it good compared to those we’re helping. And it’s because we are so fortunate that it’s important that we give back.
Like I said, we are not a large company, but we can do huge things when we open our hearts to those in need.
