Jonathan (Jon) Stump, Vice President of Product Services at Independence Blue Cross (Independence), is happy with the nice issues his staff has achieved collectively — not simply within the workplace but in addition in the neighborhood.
Since Jon joined Product Services seven years in the past, his staff (made up of roughly 40 associates) has made giving again a part of the division’s tradition, finishing a number of volunteer occasions collectively by Independence’s Blue Crew company volunteer program. The end result: Since 2017, his staff has donated greater than 185 hours to help three native nonprofits in our area.
How It Started
Jon nonetheless remembers the primary volunteer mission his staff labored on.
“The team made 150 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for Saint John’s Hospice, a shelter for homeless men in Center City,” he mentioned. “After that, we just kept going.”
Over the years, the staff has adopted an area household and supplied items for them throughout the holidays, collected objects and made care packages for Saint John’s Hospice, and ready and served Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners to seniors on the Philadelphia Senior Center (simply to call a number of).
“My team is eager to continue finding ways to give back,” Jon mentioned. “When we do things together and see the impact in our community (such as seniors enjoying a good meal), it motivates us to want to do more.”
Sharing the Joy of Volunteering
Jon’s government assistant, Adraine Lewis, has been integral to the staff’s volunteering success.
“She makes sure to schedule and coordinate volunteer events for our team throughout the year,” he mentioned. “Giving back is important to her.”
As a member of the Blue Crew, Adraine has been giving again to the neighborhood for a few years.
“Once upon a time, I was on the receiving side. My mother stayed at the Gift of Life house in Philadelphia, so I know the impact that volunteers make on these families,” she mentioned. “I started volunteering at the Gift of Life years ago and still do it today.”
Adraine is enthusiastic about giving again, so when the chance arose for a staff volunteering mission, she was excited to assist make it occur.
“It’s a great feeling to help others. I love sharing that with others,” she mentioned. “Plus, it’s a great way to bond with your coworkers.”
Supporting Their Communities During the Pandemic
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, all the things modified. With stay-at-home orders in place and the swap to distant work, in-person volunteering was not an possibility. The group needed to pivot to fulfill the rising wants of the neighborhood.
“We recognized that it was tough for everyone. There was a lot of fear and isolation, and crucial services were stopped,” Jon mentioned. “We knew we had to do something. There was so much need.”
The staff was dedicated to creating an affect in the neighborhood even when they couldn’t collect collectively to do it. Adraine labored with the Blue Crew to give you a means for the group to securely help the neighborhood. They selected a digital volunteering mission (they have been one of many first teams of associates at Independence to volunteer nearly!) with Caring for Friends and wrote “Caring Notes” that accompanied meals for seniors — all from the consolation of their very own houses.
“The community needed help more than ever,” mentioned Jon. “We didn’t realize how important this project was. The founder of the organization explained that the cards were even more valuable and impactful than the food for lonely seniors.”
Altogether, the staff participated in 4 digital volunteer initiatives throughout the peak of the pandemic.
Looking Forward to the Future
This previous Thanksgiving, the Product Services staff was in a position to resume in-person volunteering for the primary time for the reason that begin of the pandemic. They volunteered in individual at Caring for Friends, the group they supported as a part of their first digital mission. The staff was excited to assist the group by packing over 500 emergency meals bins and making ready meals within the kitchen. Caring Notes have been positioned into each the meals bins and meals earlier than being delivered to the recipients.
“It felt so good to come together again and give back to the community,” mentioned Adraine.
Now that the staff is ready to collect collectively, they’re able to go.
“We’re getting together to plan our 2023 volunteer events. We hope to do at least four this year as a group,” mentioned Jon. “We’re glad to be back in person.”